Mumbai: Filmmaker and composer Vishal Bhardwaj and costume designer Eka Lakhani are among several Indian film professionals invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of its 2026 membership class.
The latest invitations, first reported by The Telegraph India, place the Indian film personalities among 529 cinema professionals from around the world who have been invited to become members of the Academy, the organisation that presents the prestigious Oscars.
Several Indian film professionals make the list
Besides Vishal Bhardwaj and Eka Lakhani, the list of Indian invitees includes casting director Dilip Shankar, editor Deepa Bhatia and multiple National Award-winning editor A. Sreekar Prasad.
Also receiving invitations are animation artist Avneet Kaur, production and technology professionals Farah Khan and Rajesh Ramachandran, as well as visual effects experts Becky Graham and Jay Mehta.
Membership in the Academy grants professionals voting rights in the Oscars, widely regarded as one of the highest honours in global cinema.
Academy continues push for global representation
The Academy’s 2026 invitee class reflects its ongoing efforts to improve diversity and international representation within its membership.
According to the organisation, the class includes:
- 95 Oscar nominees.
- 21 Oscar winners.
- Three recipients of Scientific and Technical Awards.
Women account for 42 per cent of this year’s invitees, while 56 per cent belong to underrepresented communities.
Additionally, 53 per cent of the invitees come from 60 countries and territories outside the United States, underlining the Academy’s increasing international outreach.
Should all 529 professionals accept the invitations, the Academy’s total membership will rise to 11,319 members, of whom 10,338 will hold voting status.
Academy welcomes new members
Academy Chief Executive Officer Bill Kramer and Academy president Lynette Howell Taylor welcomed the new invitees in a joint statement.
They said the organisation was delighted to invite a remarkable group of film artists and professionals from around the world whose work has made significant contributions to global cinema.
Academy members are eligible to vote on Oscar nominations and winners within their respective branches and, in certain categories, participate in the broader awards process.
Recognition for Indian cinema professionals
The invitations mark another significant moment for Indian cinema professionals, whose contributions across filmmaking, editing, costume design, animation and visual effects continue to gain recognition on the international stage.
With Indian talent increasingly finding representation in global film institutions and awards bodies, the latest invitations further highlight the growing influence of the country’s film industry in world cinema.