Farhan Akhtar to portray Ravi Shankar in Sam Mendes' 'The Beatles'
New Delhi (PTI): Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar is all set to play the role of sitar icon Ravi Shankar in filmmaker Sam Mendes' upcoming four-part movie saga on The Beatles, slated to release in theatres in April 2028.
Sony Pictures shared the news of Akhtar's casting with a post on its official X handle on Friday.
"New casting announced for 'The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event', directed by Sam Mendes. Farhan Akhtar will star as Ravi Shankar, Lucy Boynton will star as Jane Asher. Morfydd Clark will star as Cynthia (Powell) Lennon. Harry Lawtey will star as Stuart Sutcliffe. In cinemas April 2028. #TheBeatlesMovies," the studio posted.
Mendes, the director of critical hits like "American Beauty", "Road to Perdition", "Revolutionary Road", James Bond movies "Skyfall" and "Spectre", and "1917", has taken on the ambitious duty of directing the four-film series chronicling the legendary British band, with each movie told from the perspective of one of the Beatles members.
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The band was formed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr in 1960 and is known for tracks such as "Hey Jude", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", and "Yesterday", and "Penny Lane", among others. The band broke up in 1970.
In the film, Paul Mescal will feature as Paul McCartney, Harrison Dickinson as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.
Ravi Shankar's music had influenced the Beatles, particularly Harrison, who learned Sitar from the Indian maestro. The band introduced Indian instruments in several of their songs including "Norwegian Wood", "Within You Without You " and "Love To You".
Shankar and Harrison remained friends till the very end and even collaborated together in a concert in the newly-independent Bangladesh on August 1, 1971.
Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison have given the filmmaker the full life story and music rights for the upcoming films.
Boynton will play Jane Asher, McCartney's ex-girlfriend, Clark will star as Cynthia Powell, who was married to Lennon for four years.
Lawtey will star as Stuart Sutcliffe, the band’s bass guitarist, often referred to as the “fifth Beatle”. He later left the group to study art at Hamburg College of Art, but died suddenly at the age of 21 after complaining of a severe headache during class; the cause was later determined to be a brain haemorrhage.
Akhtar was most recently seen in the war drama "120 Bahadur". In the west, the actor played a small part in Marvel Studios' series "Ms. Marvel".
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Ahead of Valentine's Day, right-wing activists vandalise property at private varsity in Indore
Indore (PTI): Right-wing activists on Thursday entered a private university in Indore and allegedly vandalised property after claiming an obscene programme linked to Valentine's Day was being organised on the campus.
The university, however, denied the allegations and asserted an "unauthorised group" damaged infrastructure and disrupted a student-led event aimed at developing professional skills.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Shrikrishna Lalchandani told reporters, "We have prima facie information that a programme related to Valentine's Day was underway at the NMIMS University campus in Gandhi Nagar police station area. Activists of Hindu organisations entered the campus and got the programme stopped."
He said commotion broke out after the activists arrived and some chairs and tables placed on the campus were damaged, adding that police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
"An investigation is underway based on video footage. We are speaking to both sides and appropriate legal action will be taken," the DCP said.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad Samrasta Department's local convener Tannu Sharma alleged obscenity was being promoted among students in the name of a Valentine's Day event on the campus.
He said Bajrang Dal activists had gone to the private university to protest against the event, but denied that they indulged in vandalism.
A spokesperson of NMIMS' local campus said, "Between 12:30 pm and 3pm today, an unauthorised group of individuals entered our campus and disrupted a student-led 'Bake & Sell' event. This activity was part of our co-curricular programme, designed to help students develop essential negotiation and commercial skills through practical experience. The group caused damage to campus infrastructure."
"We can confirm that through the immediate activation of our security protocols and the swift intervention of the local police, no students or staff members were harmed. The situation was de-escalated professionally and the individuals were dispersed," the spokesperson added.
NMIMS maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward disruptions to its academic environment and is working with the authorities to ensure the campus remains a safe space for learning, the spokesperson said.
#WATCH | Indore, Madhya Pradesh: Bajrang Dal vandalised Narsee Monjee College, DCP Zone 1, Krishna Lalchandani says, "... A Valentine’s Day programme was taking place when a Hindu organisation vandalised the venue on campus. The students were handed over to their parents, and… pic.twitter.com/mbXXTibQns
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2026
#WATCH | Indore, Madhya Pradesh: Bajrang Dal vandalised Narsee Monjee College, DCP Zone 1, Krishna Lalchandani says, "... A Valentine’s Day programme was taking place when a Hindu organisation vandalised the venue on campus. The students were handed over to their parents, and… pic.twitter.com/sjEdUrRWBt
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2026
