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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Iran says no response to US outreach for talks amid escalating conflict
Tehran: Iranian officials have claimed that they have not responded to private communication from the United States seeking talks, even as public statements from US President Donald Trump suggest that Tehran is keen to negotiate amid the ongoing conflict.
According to a report by Drop Site News, two Iranian officials said US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had sent messages to Iranian authorities, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, last week exploring the possibility of resuming negotiations. The officials said Iran did not respond to these messages and also received communication routed through third countries.
A senior Iranian official was quoted as saying that the decision not to respond was taken at the highest level. “The message here is clear: Iran has once again closed the window for any direct negotiations,” the official said, adding that any decision on ceasefire rests with the country’s Supreme Leader.
In contrast, President Trump has repeatedly stated in public that Iran is seeking talks. “They want to negotiate. They want to negotiate badly,” he said, while also claiming that Iran’s military capabilities have been significantly weakened.
The White House, responding to the report, dismissed the claims as false and criticised the publication. It said the US operation against Iran would continue until its objectives are achieved.
Meanwhile, conflicting accounts have emerged. A US official told Axios that it was Iran that had initiated contact, a claim denied by Araghchi, who said his last communication with Witkoff took place before recent military strikes. “Any claim to the contrary appears geared solely to mislead oil traders and the public,” he said.
Araghchi also rejected the suggestion that Iran is seeking a ceasefire or negotiations, stating in an interview that the country would continue to defend itself. Iranian officials have maintained that they will not consider any ceasefire arrangement unless it ensures an end to future attacks.
The report also indicates that multiple countries have attempted to mediate between the two sides, but Iran has conveyed that efforts should instead be directed towards the US administration.
Amid the conflict, global oil markets have been affected. Iran has threatened to target vessels linked to the US and its allies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a sharp drop in shipping traffic through the route. Iranian officials said the strait remains open in general but restricted for certain countries.
US officials, however, said Iranian ships have been allowed to pass through without being targeted. Rising oil prices and disruptions in supply have led to concerns among global energy companies, with industry leaders reportedly warning of severe economic consequences if the situation continues.
The US has also moved to strengthen its military presence in the region, including deploying additional troops and exploring options to secure maritime routes. President Trump has called for international participation, including from NATO countries and China, though several nations have expressed reservations.
On the ground, the conflict has intensified, with continued missile and drone strikes reported across the region. Iran has indicated that it is prepared for a prolonged confrontation and may expand its strategy to apply pressure on US and allied interests.
Iranian officials have also warned against any attempt to target key infrastructure such as Kharg Island, which handles a major portion of the country’s oil exports. They said any such move would escalate the situation further.
At the diplomatic level, divisions remain visible. While some Gulf countries have blamed Iran for the escalation, Tehran has criticised them for not condemning US and Israeli actions.
The report also notes that the conflict has led to significant casualties in Iran, with authorities claiming over 1,400 deaths and thousands injured. At the same time, regional tensions remain high, with concerns that the conflict could widen further involving other actors.
Iran has indicated that any future ceasefire would need to include broader conditions, including guarantees against further attacks and international oversight.
