Vidya Balan, Ekta Kapoor Amongst 395 Invitees Asked To Join Oscar Academy’s Class Of 2021

Vidya Balan, Ekta Kapoor Amongst 395 Invitees Asked To Join Oscar Academy’s Class Of 2021

One of my childhood guilty pleasures was watching award shows. From Filmfare to Zee Cinema Awards, I think at one point I watched all of them. And that was a thing even though I didn’t like movies. I used to watch the shows not for the awards but for watching all these Bollywood celebrities anchoring and grooving on the stage. Whether it was watching Shah Rukh Khan hosting the event or watching Vidya Balan shake a leg – it was definitely entertaining. But I realized that not all award shows are the same. When I first saw the Oscars, I remember swooning. Again I did not watch the movies, but I remember their speeches – so motivating, inspiring, and held so much meaning to them. Which is why I shifted to watching the Oscars. I still do end up watching it when I have the time. What makes me happy about them is the inclusivity that they bring when it comes to their jury members. Just being a member of the Oscar Academy sounds incredible.

Recently, Vidya Balan, Ekta Kapoor, and Shobha Kapoor from India were all invited to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is the governing body behind the Oscars. Among the 395 film industry personalities like Robert Pattinson, Laverne Cox, Vanessa Kirby, Steven Yeun, and others; Vidya Balan and Ekta Kapoor along with Shobha Kapoor were recognized by the governing body for their contribution to the industry in their respective spheres.

Vidya Balan was appreciated for her performances in Kahaani and Tumhari Sulu. Whereas Ekta Kapoor was recognized for Dream Girl and Once Upon A Time In Mumbai. And Ekta Kapoor’s mother, Shobha Kapoor, was recognized for The Dirty Picture and Udta Punjab.

Also Read: Vidya Balan Says We Judge Women Far More Than We Judge Men. Ain’t That True!

As per the reports by Variety, the 2021 class consists of 53% international from 50 countries, 46% of women, and 39% of them represent the underrepresented racial/ethnic communities. By bringing along personalities like Ekta Kapoor and Vidya Balan, the Academy is trying to bring around more inclusivity and diversity in their panel. The need to bring about such a change stemmed from the critical criticisms that the Academy faced, stating that most of the voting body included Caucasians. And that resulted in an internal bias in the voting process for the Oscars.

The need to change is more than ever. It is extremely important that film industries across the world recognize inclusivity and diversity. It is important that the film industries and award show worldwide take steps to ensure that there is representation. 

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Ritu Sanghvi

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