"Thrilled and proud": Farah Khan invited by Academy to Join Oscar voting panel
Mumbai, July 1
Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan said she is "thrilled and proud" after learning that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited her to join its 2026 membership.
The Academy has extended invitations to 529 artists and executives from around the world this year, with Farah among several renowned names selected to become members and participate in the Oscar voting process.
In an Instagram post, she wrote, "Thrilled & proud to be a part of this esteemed group..#oscars #ampas #academyofmotionpictureartsandsciences @choreographersquild @premrakshith_choreographer."
Other Indians featured on the list include filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, acclaimed for films such as Maqbool, Omkara, and Haider. He is joined by veteran editor A. Sreekar Prasad, along with Deepa Bhatia, a multiple National Award-winning editor with a career spanning over 45 years, known for her work on landmark films including RRR, Dil Chahta Hai, and Saathiya.
Bhatia is widely recognized for her editorial contributions to films such as 'Taare Zameen Par', 'Rock On!!', 'My Name Is Khan', and 'Kai Po Che'.
The invitee list also includes costume designer Eka Lakhani, casting director Dilip Shankar, and documentary filmmaker Shalini Kantayya. Lakhani is known for her costume design work across major film projects, while Shankar has built a reputation as a leading casting director. Kantayya has earned recognition for her contributions to documentary cinema.
Several professionals with strong links to the Indian film industry have also been invited. These include Avneet Kaur in the Animation branch, and Rajesh Ramachandran in Production and Technology, and Becky Graham and Jay Mehta in Visual Effects.
By accepting the invitation, the professionals will become part of an elite global body of more than 11,000 Academy members, as per Variety. Membership grants full voting rights, allowing them to participate in selecting Oscar nominees and winners.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I'm happy for Farah and the others, I hope this doesn't become just a token inclusion. The Academy needs to genuinely value Indian perspectives in filmmaking, not just use us for diversity points. But yes, Deepa Bhatia's editing in RRR was phenomenal, so she absolutely deserves this.
Great to see so many Indians getting invited! Vishal Bhardwaj is a genius - Omkara is still one of my all-time favorites. And Eka Lakhani's costume work in Bollywood is truly underrated. Hope this opens doors for more Indian talent to be recognized globally.
Farah Khan's journey from a background dancer to a choreographer and now an Oscar voter is truly inspiring. But let's not forget the behind-the-scenes heroes like A. Sreekar Prasad and Dilip Shankar - their work often goes unnoticed. Hopefully, this gives them the recognition they deserve.
Honestly, it's about time! Indian cinema has so much to offer, and having more Indian voices in the Academy means our stories, aesthetics, and talent will finally get a fair shot at the Oscars. Farah's choreography in "Chaiyya Chaiyya" and "Deewangi Deewangi" is iconic - she deserves this.
This is wonderful news, but I hope these professionals don't forget their roots. Indian cinema is unique, and we need our representatives to champion our films and filmmakers, not just conform to Hollywood standards. Anyway, congratulations to all invitees! 🌟
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