Amid Don 3 casting row, Farhan Akhtar to play Pandit Ravi Shankar in his upcoming Hollywood debut

Farhan Akhtar is currently making headlines for his much-awaited Don 3 after the collaboration with Ranveer Singh fell apart. Now, his production house Excel Entertainment has reportedly demanded Rs 40 crore from the actor for walking out of the project. Amid all this, Farhan shared a major update, he is all set to make his Hollywood debut.

Farhan Akhtar announces Hollywood debut

While discussions around Don 3 continue to grab attention, Farhan Akhtar has been cast to play legendary sitar maestro Ravi Shankar in an ambitious four-part film series on The Beatles. The project is being backed by Sony Pictures and is directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes.



According to the official announcement by Sony Pictures, Farhan will portray Ravi Shankar during a crucial period in global music history. The films will explore Shankar’s association with Beatles guitarist George Harrison in the 1960s. Shankar introduced Harrison to Indian classical music and spirituality, which later influenced several Beatles compositions featuring the sitar and Eastern musical elements.

The upcoming series will consist of four standalone films, each told from the perspective of one member of The Beatles. The narrative will trace the band’s extraordinary rise to worldwide fame and eventually their split in 1970. Reports suggest that the makers have secured full life story and music rights from the band, adding authenticity and scale to the project. All four films are scheduled for theatrical release in April 2028.

The ensemble cast is equally impressive. Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson has been cast as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan will portray Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn will take on the role of George Harrison. The supporting cast includes Lucy Boynton, Morfydd Clark, Saoirse Ronan, Anna Sawai, Aimee Lou Wood, Mia McKenna-Bruce, James Norton and Harry Lloyd in significant roles.

Although Farhan has previously appeared in the Marvel series Ms. Marvel, this marks his most prominent international acting assignment so far.

More about Farhan Akhtar's work front

Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Farhan continues to be in the spotlight due to developments around Don 3. His banner, Excel Entertainment, co-owned with Ritesh Sidhwani, has reportedly sought compensation from Ranveer Singh following his exit from the project. Adding to the business buzz, Excel Entertainment recently sold a 30 per cent stake to Universal Music Group for Rs 800 crore.

Farhan has not directed a film since Don 2 in 2011, and several announced projects, including Jee Le Zaraa, are yet to go on floors. However, with his Hollywood debut now confirmed, the actor-filmmaker appears ready to open a new chapter in his career. Stay tuned!