Kumail Nanjiani joins Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in Hollywood

Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor were among the others invited

LOS ANGELES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said in a statement. that it has invited 928 new members from 59 countries this year, in its biggest drive for diversity after years of mostly white and male membership.

Those invited include Girls Trip star Tiffany Haddish, The Big Sick co-writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V Gordon and comedian-actor Dave Chappelle.

Nanjiani took to Twitter to express his excitement.

https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/1011322202694864897

The new invitees are an effort by the Oscar-giving body to include more women, people of colour and international film-makers.

If all those invited accept, female membership would rise to 31% from the current 28%, the group said. People of colour will increase to 16% from 13%. Total membership would stand at more than 7,000 actors, writers, directors, executives and others.

A lack of diversity within the academy has long been cited as a barrier to racial inclusion in Hollywood’s highest honours. In 2016, the Academy responded by pledging to double female and minority membership by 2020.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/BILLBOARD RADIO CHINA

Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Ali Fazal, Tabu, Madhuri Dixit and Anil Kapoor were among those invited to be a part of the 2018 class.

Dangal editor Ballu Saluja and Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra were also a part of the list. Ali, who featured with Judi Dench in Victoria and Abdul, tweeted, "So so humbled to be included with the greats. Thank you to The Academy for this membership. I look forward to this friendship for a long long time..Sending my love from India."

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Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2018, read a statement. Among the invitees, 17 are Oscar winners, while 92 are Oscar nominees, including Timothee Chalamet and Daniel Kaluuya.

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Tiffany Haddish, Blake Lively, Mindy Kaling, Kendrick Lamar and JK Rowling are among the popular names on the list which ranges from actor Quvenzhane Wallis, who is the youngest at age 14, to composer Sofia Gubaidulina, who is the oldest at 86.

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