Indian Actors Kajol, Suriya; Filmmakers Pan Nalin, Reema Kagti Invited To The Academy

Indian actors Kajol and Suriya may soon become members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscar-nominated documentary makers Sushmit Ghosh and Rintu Thomas, and Indian American producer Adiya Sood (who backed Deadpool and Murder on the Orient Express) as well as writer Reema Kagti have also been invited.

Director Nalin is elated to receive the invitation and says, “I feel honored and empowered. Somehow many years ago I chose a path that was difficult and unwalkable. Today is a glory day. What I did in my solitude finally echoes in multitudes. Thank you, Academy, for believing in my cinema and encouraging me to go on. I am super excited about this new beginning. A new journey commences today.”

Suriya also thanked the Academy.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has shared a list of 397 artists and executives who have been invited become members of the Academy. As per the press release, the 2022 class consists of 44% women, 37% people from underrepresented ethnic/racial communities, and 50% are from 53 countries and territories outside the United States. Among those invited, there are 71 Oscar nominees, including 15 winners this year.

In the list shared by the Academy, Kajol has been credited for her roles in films such as My Name Is Khan (2013) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). She featured alongside Shah Rukh Khan in both the films and Karan Johar directed them. The 48-year-old actor started her career with Bekhudi in 1992 when she was still in school. Soon, she found fame with Baazigar and Yeh Dillagi – both films proved to be successful at the box office. In 1995, she featured in Aditya Chopra’s romantic film, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. She worked with veteran actors Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal and Satish Shah. Shah Rukh Khan starred opposite Kajol in the film. Kajol has since worked in many films including Tanhaji The Unsung Warrior and Tribhanga. Her husband Ajay Devgn played the titular role in Tanhaji The Unsung Warrior, while she worked with Renuka Shahane in Tribhanga that was directed by Shahane.

Suriya has been credited for more recent films in the list – Jai Bhim (2021) and Soorarai Pottru (2020). Directed by TJ Gnanavel, Jai Bhim is a legal drama that is based on a true incident. The Tamil film received wide critical appreciation for the script, as well as Suriya’s performance. Soorarai Pottru was directed by Sudha Kongara and was based on the memoirs of Air Deccan founder GR Gopinath. A Hindi remake of the film is under works right now. Kongara is directing the Hindi version it stars and Akshay Kumar and Radhika Madan play important roles in the film. Paresh Rawal will be seen reprising his role and Suriya also has a cameo role. He recently completed his portion of the shoot and shared a picture with Kumar, thanking him for the experience.

Kagti recently wrote Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy (2019) and the AmazonAMZN
Prime web show Made In Heaven (2019). She also directed Kumar’s film Gold that came out in 2018. She has also written the upcoming film Jee Le Zara. Touted as a female buddy film, it will feature three top Hindi films actors – Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt.

Pan Nalin rose to fame with his film, Angry Indian Goddesses, which came out in 2015 and featured Sandhya Mridul, Sarah-Jane Dias, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Anushka Manchanda, Rajshri Deshpande, Amrit Maghera, Adil Hussain and Pavleen Gujral. He is also known for Samsara. His Gujarati film Chhello Show ( The Last Film Show) is set to release in India later this year.

Ghosh and Thomas made the documentary Writing with Fire (2021), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.