By FF Network
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the governing body behind the Oscars have divulged the long list of new members who have been invited to join the leading film body. Bollywood actress Vidya Balan and producers EktaKapoor and Shobha Kapoor’s name figure in the list of 395 new members of artists and executives who have received invitation to join the Academy’s Class Of 2021.
Meanwhile, the other newcomers may include Oscar winners Florian Zeller and Yuh-Jung Youn, among others. Artists such as Henry Golding, Robert Pattinson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Vaneesa Kirby also received the invite to join.
The Academy revealed the names of the “Class of 2021” on the web page. The Academy took to its social media handle and tweeted, “It’s time to announce our new members! Meet the Class of 2021. #WeAreTheAcademy”.
The name of Vidya Balan, Ekta Kapoor along with her mother Shobha Kapoor happens to be among the 395 new members from 50 nations who have received the invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2021.
It is worth noting that the “Class of 2021” includes 46 percent of new women invitees. The Academy has decided to invite 395 people only this year compared to 819 members last year. Meanwhile, last year’s class comprised of actors Alia Bhatt and Hrithik Roshan along with documentary filmmakers NishthaJain and Amit Madheshiya. The last year’s list also included India’s leading designer Neeta Lulla, visual effective supervisors Vishal Anand, Sandeep Kamal, and casting director NandiniShrikent.
The new entries are slated to introduce the number of qualified voters at the Academy to at least 9,750. Meanwhile, this year 53 percent of the new entries are international members.
Presently, the Academy is undergoing major changes most of it revolving around inclusivity and diversity. The changes came into effect after severe criticism that a large number of the Academy’s voting body is Caucasian.
