Global star Freida Pinto was bestowed with Possibly one of the most significant forms of appreciation and recognition by none other than The Academy - hosts of the Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have invited Pinto to join in and be part of their empanelled members.

Freida joins the roster along with Rachel McAdams and Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins, Idris Elba, James Hong and rising stars Michael B. Jordan, Chadwick Boseman and The Force Awakens' John Boyega. In addition, two more names of Indian origin have been invited - Sharmila Tagore and Deepa Mehta. This makes Freida the youngest Indian to be given this coveted space in addition to it being a huge expression of acknowledgment of her body of work internationally.

Talking about this development, Freida says " I am so excited to be invited to the Academy. The responsibilities and duties of being a member are something I look forward to. Voting for well deserving, diverse talent and creativity is going to be a real honour. This year is the first major step towards inclusion and diversity and Im sure it will only get better."

`We're proud to welcome the new members to the Academy and know they view this as an opportunity and not just an invitation - a mission and not just a membership,` says Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs. `This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today. We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry.`