New Delhi, March 12 -- As actor-director Farhan Akhtar prepares for his debut in Sam Mendes' upcoming four-part biopic on The Beatles, the move underscores a long-standing reality: the Hollywood game remains fairly hard for Indian stars to crack.

While the American entertainment industry appears inclusive and casts diverse faces, the resources and effort required to audition and secure a talent agency to represent them are beyond the reach of many Indian actors.

"One reason may be simply lack of access. Another is that many actors are doing very well here; they have a strong run of films, they're surrounded by their people, they're celebrated, they're treated a certain way," said Harikrishnan Pillai, chief executive officer (CEO) and co...