George Harrison's sitar has been sold at auction for $66,993

The instrument - which was invented in medieval India - ignited Harrison's lifelong passion for Indian music, culture, and Hindu spirituality, while it also sparked a broader interest in sitars among other Western musicians.

Harrison visited India for the first time in 1966, where he studied the sitar under the tutelage of Ravi Shankar.

The instrument ultimately helped Harrison to develop a deeper understanding of Eastern melodies and philosophy.

Harrison subsequently created a series of Indian-style compositions, such as 'Within You Without You' and 'Love You To'.

And Harrison's iconic sitar recently sold at Nate D. Sanders Auctions in Los Angeles for an eye-watering sum of money.

Meanwhile, in February, it was announced that Sir Sam Mendes is set to make four separate films about each member of The Beatles.

The 58-year-old filmmaker previously pitched the idea of making four separate movies about Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison to ex ecutives in Hollywood, and Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler, of Sony Pictures Entertainment, were both wowed by his ambitious plans.

Sam - who will direct all four films - told Deadline: "We went out to Los Angeles just before Christmas to pitch the project, and it's fair to say we were met with universal enthusiasm.

"The reason Sony stood out from competing offers was down to Tom and Elizabeth's passion for the idea, and commitment to propelling these films theatrically in an innovative and exciting way."