Vidya Balan, Shobha & Ekta Kapoor latest names added to the Academy

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the governing body behind the Oscars recently announced the latest members who have been asked to join the board, which includes some leading names from the Indian film industry.

Reported on Mid-Day, Vidya Balan and mother-daughter duo Shobha and Ekta Kapoor are among the new 395 members invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The professional honorary organisation made the announcement on their website and said the list contains artistes and executives from 50 countries who have “distinguished themselves by their contributions to motion pictures.”

Following the uproar in 2015 for the lack of diversity in the Academy, they have said that the class of 2021 features 46 per cent women, 39 per cent underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 53 per cent international artistes from 49 countries outside of the United States.

The Academy said the number invited to membership was limited to roughly half that of recent years, to “enable steady future growth and to ensure the necessary infrastructure, staff resources and environment to support all Academy members.”

Balan and the Kapoors will be joining some of Hollywood’s biggest names such as, Janet Jackson, Robert Pattinson, H.E.R., Henry Golding and Eiza Gonzalez.

The upcoming 94th Academy Awards are expected to be held on March 27, 2022.