Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Anupam Kher – 5 Indians make it to the list of The Academy Award members

The Academy Awards is the annual celebration of films and is considered to be among the highest-honour for the film fraternity across the globe. The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Science on Monday (July 1) gave out the list of people who are invited as the Members of the Academy. So far, the list includes five Indians including Anupam Kher, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and two actresses of Indian descent.

The list this year reflects the Academy’s attempt to try and take an initiative to make it more inclusive and global. Though the total number of members is not out yet, the announced list includes 29 per cent people of colour, bringing in a big change. The list includes 21 Oscar winners and 82 past nominees. From India, the list includes actor Anupam Kher, directors Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, and Ritesh Batra as the prominent names. The list also includes Srinivas Mohan, the man behind the visual effects in the magnum opus Baahubali. Indian descent Canadian actress Nisha Ganatra and British actress Archie Panjabi have also made it to the members list. Anurag Kashyap also announced the same on Twitter and wrote, “#WeAreTheAcademy.”

This is just the first list and more names are awaited. Last year a total number of 20 Indians made it to the list of the Academy Awards. For more updates and news, stay tuned to CineBlitz.