Indian cinema continues to shine on the global stage as two prominent Indian actors, Kamal Haasan and Ayushmann Khurrana have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—known for organising the Oscars. They now share space with big global names like Ariana Grande, Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, who are also part of the new invitee list.The Academy revealed on 26 June that it had invited 534 new members from across the world, honouring a mix of actors, musicians, filmmakers, designers and more from the global film industry.Star-studded list includes Indian and global talentAlongside Kamal Haasan and Ayushmann Khurrana, several other Indian names have also made it to this year’s list. These include Karan Mally (casting director), Ranabir Das (cinematographer), Maxima Basu (costume designer), Smriti Mundhra (documentary filmmaker), and filmmaker Payal Kapadia.From the international front, the Academy has chosen several well-known faces such as Ariana Grande, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, Branford Marsalis, Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel.Famous actors like Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Aubrey Plaza, Danielle Deadwyler and Andrew Scott are also among the invitees. Others include Gillian Anderson, Naomi Ackie, Monica Barbaro, Jodie Comer, and ‘Succession’ stars Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong. Oscar winner Mikey Madison, Adriana Paz from ‘Emilia Pérez’, and Sebastian Stan are also part of the new class.The Academy grows with a focus on diversityIf all the invited people accept, the Academy will have a total of 11,120 members (including Emeritus). Out of these, 10,143 will have voting rights for the Oscars. The Academy shared that the membership process “prioritises professional qualifications while upholding the Academy’s commitment to fostering representation, inclusion, and equity for all.”In this 2025 invited class, 41% are women, 45% come from underrepresented communities, and 55% are from 60 countries and territories outside the United States. Those who accept these invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership this year.How the Academy invites new membersUnlike regular applications, people do not apply to join the Academy. Instead, they need to be sponsored by two current members from the same branch or category. This applies to all, except for those joining as Associates.The Academy has 19 branches and one membership classification. Each year, it selects new members carefully, based on their experience, contributions, and potential to add to the global film community.What’s next for the OscarsWith these new invitees, the Academy gears up for the next big Oscar event. The 2026 Oscars are set to take place on 15 March. Conan O’Brien will host the event. The nominations voting period will run from 12 to 16 January. The final list of nominees will be announced on 22 January. The annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon will be held on 10 February.
