After becoming the first Kollywood actor to get 2 million likes on Instagram Suriya has once again proved his grandeur by becoming the first Tamil actor, invited to join the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The class of 2022 at the Oscars!

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday that it is inviting 397 artists and executives to become members of the Oscar organiser. The anticipated 2022 class includes 71 Oscar nominees and 15 winners, with 44 per cent of the invitees being women and 37 per cent belonging to underrepresented communities.

Notable artists from India, namely Kajol and Suriya Sivakumar, among actors; filmmaker Reema Kagti; documentary helmer Rintu Thomas of Writing with Fire fame; and more are invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Academy said that those who accept invitations will be the only additions to the membership in 2022. This year’s invitee total is two more than 2021’s class, which was preceded by a surge in membership as AMPAS focused on diversifying its rolls and expanding its international footprint following the #OscarsSoWhite backlash after the 2015 nominations, in which all 20 acting nominations were given to white actors.