Bollywood director Ashutosh Gowariker has been selected as a member of the directors' branch of the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, the body that instituted the Oscars.
"This was communicated to me last week. A membership would allow me to enjoy certain benefits like access to film archives of the academy and their library," Ashutosh, whose film Lagaan was among those nominated in the category of best foreign films at the Oscars, said in Mumbai on Friday.
"It would also allow me to cast my vote to select the best of mainstream American films," he said, adding, "Though I would have loved to vote for Foreign Films section as well."
"This is a life membership," he explains.
On the issue of the Marathi film
Shwaas
being India's entry to the Oscars this time, he said, "I had a meeting with the director of
Shwaas
. I have given him all the information regarding the publicity aspect."
"I have shared with him my own experiences about Lagaan. The main thing required there is an awareness about the film, which I have repeatedly told him," he added.