The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the newest class of 2024. According to sources, the list of invitees for new members includes 487 approaching new members. The frontline personalities among those who will join from India's corner are RRR director S S Rajamouli, acting legend Shabana Azmi, and director Rima Das of Village Rockstars fame.

Indian Film Icons Join Academy's 2024 Class: SS Rajamouli, Shabana Azmi, and Rima Das:

Among the 71 invitees, there are 19 Oscar winners and the nominees for this year. The long list of Indian invitees has actor Shabana Azmi, directors Rima Das and S S Rajamouli, cinematographer Ravi Varman, costume designers Rama Rajamouli and Sheetal Sharma, filmmaker Anand Kumar Tucker, documentary filmmakers Nisha Pahuja and Hemal Trivedi, producer Ritesh Sidhwani, and choreographer Prem Rakshith.

Indian Cinema Shines: Shabana Azmi and SS Rajamouli Lead the List of Invitees:

The only actress to win five National Awards for Best Actress for Indian cinema, Shabana Azmi is one invitee from the film fraternity. S S Rajamouli, finally getting international recognition for the movie RRR, with an Oscar for Best Original Song 'Naatu Naatu,' and its choreographer Prem Rakshith, too, finds himself in this year's list of invitees.

Documentary Filmmakers and Producers Among Indian Invitees to the Academy:

There's also an award-winning documentary cinematographer, Hemal Trivedi; Nisha Pahuja, whose documentary To Kill a Tiger got an Academy Award nomination last year, in addition to Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment is also on this exceptional list.

Academy's Class of 2024: A Global and Diverse Group:

It represents 59 per cent from overseas, comprising 56 countries and territories outside the US. Women make up 44 per cent and underrepresented ethnic/racial communities make up 41 per cent of the Academy's Class of 2024. Invitees qualifying for multiple branches will be asked to choose only one branch upon accepting membership.

Following the going public of the new members, The Academy posted on Instagram, 'We're proud to announce our newly invited members to the Academy!'