Mumbai:Actors Kajol, Suriya, and filmmakers Sushmit Ghosh, Rintu Thomas, Reema Kagti, and Pan Nalin are among the 397 new members invited this year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In a statement shared on its website, the Academy late Tuesday night said the list includes artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures.
Membership selection is based on professional qualifications, with an ongoing commitment to representation, inclusion and equity remaining a priority. "The 2022 class is 44% women, 37% belong to underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 50% are from 53 countries and territories outside the United States," the Academy said in the statement.
Kajol, the star of Hindi films such as "My Name Is Khan" and "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...", and Suriya, popular for his work in Tamil cinema through films "Jai Bhim" and "Soorarai Pottru", have been invited by the actor's branch. Ghosh and Thomas, whose "Writing With Fire" was nominated in the best documentary feature category at this year's Academy Awards, are included in the documentary branch. Kagti, known for Hindi films such as "Talaash", "Gully Boy" and "Gold", has received an invitation from the writer's branch. Nalin, best known for his films "Samsara", "Angry Indian Goddesses" and "Last Film Show", has been invited by the director's branch.
From the Indian film industry, Oscar-winner A R Rahman, megastar Amitabh Bachchan, superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Balan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Ali Afzal as well as producers Aditya Chopra, Guneet Monga, Ekta Kapoor, and Shobha Kapoor, are already the Academy members.
British director of Indian origin Aneil Karia is also part of the invitee list sent out by the director's branch. Among the invitees, there are 71 Oscar nominees, including 15 winners, the Academy said. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2022, the officials added. There are a total of 17 branches, along with 25 that today received members-at-large invitations. Others on the list include this year's best-supporting actress winner Ariana DeBose, best original song winners Billie Eilish and brother Finneas O'Connell as well as nominees Jamie Dornan ("Belfast"), Jesse Plemons ("The Power of The Dog"), alongside "The Northmen" star Anya Joy Taylor, and "Drive My Car" star Hidetoshi Nishijima. (PTI)
