Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar’s Hollywood debut as Pandit Ravi Shankar has found an unlikely cheerleader — Amul India. The dairy giant marked the moment with a quirky topical titled Sitar Turn for Farhan, celebrating the actor’s casting in Sam Mendes’ ambitious Beatles biopic.
The illustrated creative, shared by Amul, features Farhan seated with a sitar beside an image of Ravi Shankar, blending humour with homage in the brand’s signature style. As news of his casting travels across industries, Amul’s tribute has added a distinctly Indian stamp of approval to the global milestone.
Farhan has been cast as Bharat Ratna recipient and sitar maestro Ravi Shankar in The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes. The project explores the journey of The Beatles, including the band’s cultural and musical intersections with India — most notably through George Harrison’s association with Shankar.
What did Amul’s topical say?
Amul captioned its creative: “Actor-director all set to make Hollywood debut in Beatles biopic as Ravi Shankar!” The wordplay — “Sitar Turn for Farhan”– plays on both the instrument and the shift in his career trajectory. Farhan reshared the tribute, thanking the brand for the nod.
Why is this casting significant?
For Farhan, the role marks a major international leap. Portraying Ravi Shankar — a musician who introduced Indian classical music to Western audiences –carries global weight. Shankar’s collaborations with Harrison helped shape a cross-cultural musical dialogue in the 1960s, and the film aims to revisit that legacy.
What can audiences expect from the film?
With Mendes at the helm, expectations are naturally high. Known for large-scale cinematic storytelling, the director is set to present the Beatles’ journey across four interconnected films. The inclusion of Shankar’s influence signals a deeper exploration of the band’s spiritual and musical evolution.
For Farhan, this isn’t just another role. It’s a sitar string pulled across continents — resonant, ambitious and very much in tune with a global stage.
