Javed, Farhan Akhtar Praise Zoya for Becoming an Academy Member

Javed Akhtar took to Twitter to congratulate his daughter.

Zoya Akhtar has been offered the membership to become an Academy member.

(Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia Commons; Twitter; Instagram)

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhar on Tuesday announced and congratulated his daughter Zoya Akhtar for being offered the opportunity to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a new member. He took to Twitter to express how proud he was that his daughter has been given such a “rare honour.”

“I am sure that fellow Indians will be happy and proud to know that my daughter Zoya Akhtar who is a well known writer- director has been offered the membership of Oscar academy which is rare honour,” he wrote.

Zoya Akhtar’s brother and actor Farhan Akhtar too praised his sister on social media. He wrote: "Congratulations Zoya. Well deserved. Happy for you and proud of you."

In its endeavour to swell the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences membership ranks, 842 artists and executives from 59 countries have been invited to join this year. People of colour (29 per cent) and women (50 per cent) are among the many invitees, as the Academy continues to address its long-term white-male dominance.

Anupam Kher, Anurag Kashyap and Ritesh Batra are among the other artistes from India who have been nominated as new members for 2019. The official Twitter handle of The Academy broke the news.

Zoya Akhtar is known for helming Bollywood films like Luck by Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dadhakne Do and most recently, Gully Boy. Gully Boy starred Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. In an interview, Zoya confirmed that after the raving success of Gully Boy, a sequel to the film is in the pipeline.

Zoya Akhtar also made her digital debut with the show Made in Heaven. A second season of Made in Heaven is currently in the works.

(With inputs from IANS)