Amol Palekar was last seen in the Marathi film Samantar with Sharmila Tagore
Actor-director Amol Palekar has been appointed the chairman of a jury to pick the country's official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscar awards next year, Film Federation of India secretary Suparn Sen said. (Also Read:
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An elated Mr Palekar said the process of selecting the filmto represent India at Oscars 2016 was yet to begin.
"I am happy that I have been appointed as the chairman ofIndia's Oscar jury. We haven't decided on any criteria forselecting a film for Oscars. I will have a meeting first withour esteemed members and work out the selection criteria," he stated.
A National Award-winning director, Mr Palekar is famous for portraying the common man hero in '70s films such as
Rajnigandha, Ek Chhoti Si Baat, Chitchor and
Golmaal.
Now 70, Amol Palekar is a respected filmmaker and active in Marathi cinema. Some years ago, his film
Paheli, starring Shah Rukh Khan, was picked as India's official Oscar submission.
Also on the jury is actor and BJP member Naresh Kanodia, a prominent name from Gujarati stage and cinema.
Last year, India sent
Liar's Dice to the Oscars but if failed to make it to the final five. The Indian films that have so far been nominated for the Foreign Film Oscar include
Mother India, Salaam! Bombay and
Lagaan.
With inputs from PTI