Farhan Akhtar reacts to butter brand's ‘Sitar turn’ doodle honoring his role as Ravi Shankar in Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopic

Actor-director Farhan Akhtar is heading to Hollywood, and the news has sparked a massive celebration. Shortly after it was announced that Akhtar will portray the legendary sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar in Sam Mendes’ ambitious project, 'The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event', dairy giant Amul India joined the festivities with a dedicated doodle.

Specialized artwork for Farhan Akhtar

The said brand is renowned for its witty takes on global cultural moments. With Farhan Akhtar's international breakthrough, the new doodle features an illustration of Farhan seated gracefully next to Ravi Shankar, both cradling sitars. This was shared on the brand's official Instagram handle.

In its signature pun-filled style, the artwork was captioned, “Sitar turn for Farhan!”, featuring a clever wordplay. Akhtar was quick to acknowledge the honor, sharing the tribute on his Instagram Stories with the caption, “Aww, thank you,” accompanied by heart emojis. The story had his mother Honey Irani dropping clap and heart emojis on it.

More about Sam Mendes and 'The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event'

Farhan Akhtar’s debut is a part of the ambitious venture directed by Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes. 'The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event' is reportedly a four part distinct yet interconnected biopics, each focusing on a specific member of the "Fab Four" namely, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

The films will chronicle the band’s legendary journey from the clubs of Liverpool and Hamburg to global superstardom. Farhan Akhtar’s role as Ravi Shankar is pivotal, as the maestro was instrumental in shaping George Harrison’s interest in Indian classical music and spirituality, a fusion that changed the band's sound forever.

Farhan Akhtar's work slate

Farhan Akhtar was last seen in the war drama '120 Bahadur' which chronicles the heroic story of the Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. It stars Akhtar as the legendary Major Shaitan Singh, with Raashii Khanna making a special appearance as his wife, Shugan Kanwar. The film was released on November 21, 2025.

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