Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj among 6 Indians invited to Oscar voting panel

With the new jury for the 99^th edition of the Academy Awards almost double what it was a decade ago, among those who received invites are One Battle After Another nominee Teyana Taylor, Josh O'Connor, Jenna Ortega, Jacob Elordi, and Simu Liu.

If all new members accept their invitations, the film academy will number 11,319, with 10,338 voting members. In 2016, the academy numbered closer to 6,000 members.

Indian invitees on Oscar panel

Besides Bhardwaj, the other Indian personalities invited to the Oscar jury are film editors Deepa Bhatia and A Sreekar Prasad, costume designer Eka Lakhani, casting director Dilip Shankar and Disney animator Avneet Kaur.

A filmmaker, music composer, playback singer and poet, Bhardwaj is the recipient of nine National Film Awards. His films Maqbool, Omkara, and Haider are adaptations of William Shakespeare’s famous works.

Also read: Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shakespearean trilogy: A look at modern India, through tragedies

Prasad, the editor of Oscar-winning film RRR, is also known for his work in films like Shershaah, Saathiya, and Sky Force. Bhatia has films such as Taare Zameen Par, Rock On, and Kedarnath to her credit.

Lakhani, who is known for closely working with directors such as Mani Ratnam, Rajkumar Hirani, Karan Johar and Gautham Menon, has designed costumes for several biopics and period dramas. Sanju, Ponniyin Selvan: I and II, and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani are some of her notable projects.

Shankar, who also dabbles in acting, has set the casting line up for films such as Life of Pi, Delhi 6 and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. He is also associated with the Oscar-bound film Last Film Show.

Bid for inclusivity

In 2015, the academy was 75 per cent male and 92 per cent white. That year, all 20 acting nominees were white, prompting the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag.

Following the induction of this year's new members, the academy will be 64 per cent male and 75 per cent white. One byproduct of the membership expansion has been an increase in international voters. Overseas members now account for 22 per cent of the group.

Also read: Oscars 2026: Full list of winners on a night of history-making and upsets

The makeup of the new class is 42 per cent women, 56 per cent from underrepresented communities, and 53 per cent from countries outside the U.S.

“Membership selection is based on professional qualifications, with an ongoing commitment to representation, inclusion, and equity remaining a priority,” the academy said in its announcement.

The award ceremony is slated for March 14, 2027, and will feature Conan O’Brien as the host for the third consecutive time.