Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; March 31, 2026)

Farhan Akhtar is set to step into Hollywood with his first international film project. The actor-filmmaker has been cast in the biopic of the Fab Four helmed by Sam Mendes. Centered on The Beatles, the film will see Farhan portraying iconic Indian musician Ravi Shankar.

When we caught up with his wife, actor-producer Shibani Akhtar, at a recent event, she spoke about how this project aligns perfectly with Farhan’s artistic instincts. “He is such an incredible talent. I absolutely think he will get his due here. For him, it has never been about anything superficial; it’s about the craft, the artistry, and the immersive process of stepping fully into a character’s skin,” she said, talking exclusively to us at the launch of Irasva's lab-grown diamond collection Issho.

Shibani, who produced the crime drama series Dabba Cartel last year, added, “The same holds true for The Beatles project that he is about to do. It is such an important project, it is such an incredible milestone in his life. To be able to work with Sam Mendes, to be able to tell the story of The Beatles and play Ravi Shankar is massive.”