Freida Pinto, Sharmila Tagore, Deepa Mehta Join The Oscar Academy

Frieda Pinto, Sharmila Tagore, Deepa Mehta are the new members of The Oscar Academy

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced its new list of members and guess who are on it? India’s very own Sharmila Tagore, Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto and director Deepa Mehta are among the people of Indian-origin film to be members of the Academy, which has been till now dominated by a white, male contingent.

According to IANS, the Academy has invited a record 683 new members aiming at diversity following the #OscarsSoWhite uproar earlier this year. Apart from Tagore, Pinto and Mehta, British filmmaker of Indian origin Asif Kapadia - who bagged the Best Documentary Feature Oscar for Amy, based on the life of late singer Amy Winehouse - also features in this year’s class of new members.

On the Hollywood front, the new members also include Star Wars actor John Boyega, Idris Elba and last year’s best actress winner Brie Larson. Also invited are Kate Beckinsale, Creed director Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan and Emma Watson.