New Delhi, Feb. 13 -- Bollywood actor, director and producer Farhan Akhtar has joined the cast of the much-anticipated The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event, taking on the role of Ravi Shankar, the influential sitar maestro who helped shape The Beatles' sound in the 1960s.

The announcement was made this week by Sony Pictures, in conjunction with director Sam Mendes and production partners including Apple Corps Ltd., as filming continues in the United Kingdom.

In addition to Akhtar, the film's expanding ensemble now includes British and international actors Lucy Boynton, Morfydd Clark and Harry Lawtey in key roles. Boynton will play Jane Asher, Clark will appear as Cynthia Lennon, and Lawtey will portray Stuart Sutcliffe - all figure...