Shabana Azmi, SS Rajamouli in Academy ’24

As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced 487 new members in its Class of 2024 on June 25, Indian directors SS Rajamouli and Rima Das, along with veteran Indian actor Shabana Azmi, were included in the prestigious list.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said, “We are thrilled to welcome this year’s class of new members to the Academy. These remarkably talented artists and professionals from around the world have made a significant impact on our filmmaking community.”

As reported by the Hindustan Times, Azmi is one of India’s most revered actors, known for her work in parallel cinema. Her career has spanned over 160 films, and she has won the National Award for Best Actress a record five times. To be considered for membership in the Actors branch of the Academy, a candidate must have a minimum of three theatrical feature films, one of which was released in the past five years.

Meanwhile, SS Rajamouli took the world by storm with his last release RRR, which ultimately won the Oscar for Best Original Song for Naatu Naatu. He is the recipient of various national and international awards, including a New York Film Critics Circle Award, and was included on the Time list of 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.

The Academy is a US-based organisation dedicated to celebrating individuals who have made significant contributions to filmmaking. According to the official Academy website, the list comprises 71 Oscar nominees, including 19 winners. This year’s members consist of 44% women, 41% from underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, as well as 56% from territories outside the United States.

In addition to Bollywood actors and directors, the fresh list of 2024 also consists of Indian cinematographer Ravi Varman, costume designers Rama Rajamouli, Sheetal Sharma, and Anand Kumar Tucker, documentary filmmakers Nisha Pahuja and Hemal Trivedi, producer Ritesh Sidhwani, as well as choreographer Prem Rakshith. Rakshith’s cinematic achievements include choreographing the Oscar-winning Naatu Naatu.

Trivedi, meanwhile, has been an internationally celebrated filmmaker and editor for over 18 years. Her work has been showcased in film festivals such as Sundance and Tribeca, and has also been broadcast on several venues, including Netflix and HBO. In addition, Trivedi has also won one Oscar and three Emmys, and been nominated for several other awards.

Pahuja’s achievements include her work on the Academy Award-nominated documentary film To Kill A Tiger, as well as the Emmy-nominated The World Before Her, the feature documentary Bollywood Bound, and the three-part series Diamond Road.

Film producer Ritesh Sidhwani is the co-founder of Excel Entertainment, which is now one of the first major Indian production companies in the OTT content pace. Excel Entertainment’s shows include Inside Edge, Mirzapur, and Made in Heaven. Before embarking on the OTT business, Sidhwani had already made a name for himself by working on the production of the Bollywood hit Dil Chahta Hai.

Academy membership is by invitation only from the Board of Governors. Invitations to active membership are limited to those persons active in the motion picture arts and sciences, credited with screen achievements. An invitation may also be extended to those who have otherwise achieved distinction in the motion picture arts and sciences.

The Academy boasts a membership of over 10,500 global film industry artists and leaders, an acclaimed film museum and collection, and world-renowned awards for cinematic achievements. Its mission is to recognise and celebrate all aspects of the film industry, inspire young artists, create opportunities for underrepresented communities, and connect global audiences through their shared love of cinema.