iWorld
Audible Original adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 starring Andrew Garfield & others, out now
Mumbai: Audible, a leading provider of spoken word entertainment, has launched its new audio thriller based on George Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece 1984, featuring an all-star cast.
Oscar nominated, and Golden Globe and Tony award winning actor, Andrew Garfield leads the adaptation as Winston alongside Grammy, Emmy and Tony award winning, Oscar nominated actor Cynthia Erivo as Julia.
BAFTA and Olivier award winning Andrew Scott plays the alluring, mysterious and dangerous O’Brien, while Oscar nominated actor Tom Hardy voices the infamous Big Brother.
The cast also features Romesh Ranganathan as Parsons, Natasia Demetriou as Mrs Parsons, Chukwudi Iwuji as Charrington, Francesca Mills as Syme, Katie Leung as Ling, Alex Lawther as Ampleforth alongside a full ensemble.
Andrew Garfield, playing Winston in Audible’s 1984 said: “I’m very grateful to Audible to be a part of this new incarnation of Orwell’s radical, political classic, 1984. A classic that, disappointingly, humanity seems to need to be constantly engaged with. To keep ourselves awake and remembering that we each have a soul. And that that soul is full of beauty and value. And how vital it is for each of us to resist the forces that wish to subdue and strangle that collective soul. The cast and crew is clearly the best of the best of British and Irish talent. It was truly a joy to tell this story for an audience hungry for their own liberation.”
Cynthia Erivo, playing Julia said: “It has been a truly wonderful experience getting the chance to share my interpretation of the incomparable Julia. Her wit, grit and determination, her passion for life and her want to LIVE has been a delight to play, this adaptation has allowed all of the beautiful qualities she has, to shine bright and it has been a pleasure to have been able to work with such wonderful artists. I think we have created something quite special together.”
Transporting listeners into the dystopian world of 1984, Matthew Bellamy, Muse’s songwriter, guitarist and frontman, and award-winning composer Ilan Eshkeri have created an original score performed by London Metropolitan Orchestra at Abbey Road studios. The production is underpinned by a visceral, haunting soundscape, and mixed in Dolby Atmos.
Matthew Bellamy and Ilan Eshkeri, co-creators of 1984’s soundtrack jointly shared: “The music we created is more than a soundtrack; it’s a haunting echo of a future that Orwell warned us about and a reflection of our current societal trajectories. It stands as a poignant, musical testament to the enduring power of art to mirror, and challenge, the world we live in.”
Directed by BAFTA award winning Destiny Ekaragha, this Audible Original adaptation, penned by Olivier Award nominated writer Joe White stays faithful to the original text, leaning into the horror of the dystopian setting, whilst going deeper into Winston and Julia’s love story. In a world where love and sex are forbidden, Winston and Julia are the last lovers on earth.
The adaptation has been officially authorised and endorsed by the Orwell Estate with Richard Blair, George Orwell’s son, calling it “sensational” with a “brilliant cast”.
George Orwell’s 1984, an Audible Original, releases globally on 4 April, exactly 40 years after the date of Winston’s first diary entry.
Available now exclusively on Audible here. Audible membership may be required.
Gaming
Roblox appoints Sunil Rao as India managing director to drive growth
Former AWS leader to lead creator ecosystem, partnerships and local strategy
MUMBAI: Roblox has appointed Sunil Rao as managing director for India, as the company looks to deepen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Rao, who will join in May, will serve as the senior-most representative for Roblox in India, leading local strategy, partnerships and day-to-day operations. His mandate includes strengthening the platform’s presence, supporting the creator ecosystem and aligning India’s market needs with global priorities.
A key focus area will be nurturing India’s growing community of developers and creators, enabling local studios to leverage Roblox’s tools for scaling and monetisation. Globally, the platform’s creator community earned over $1.5 billion in 2025, underlining the economic potential of user-generated content ecosystems.
“Roblox is at the forefront of enabling a new generation of creators and games. India’s scale, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy present a massive opportunity,” said Rao. “I’m excited to build a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem that empowers developers and creators across the country. Ensuring child safety and aligning closely with India’s regulatory framework will be among my top priorities.”
Welcoming the appointment, Roblox vice president international Zhen Fang said India represents a high-potential market for the company. “Sunil brings deep expertise in building operations across diverse markets, and his passion for community-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader to drive our next chapter of growth in the country.”
Rao brings over two decades of experience across technology platforms, venture capital and developer ecosystems. He was previously part of the leadership team at Amazon Web Services, where he led strategy and corporate business development across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also served as a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, working closely with startups and founders.
Earlier in his career, Rao played a key role in building developer ecosystems at Symbian, Nokia and Google, contributing to the growth of major mobile and internet platforms.
With India’s large youth population and rapidly evolving digital landscape, Roblox’s latest leadership move signals a sharper focus on long-term growth, local relevance and creator-led innovation in the market.
