Which of the following Indian film personalities has been honoured by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with a special Honorary Oscar for lifetime contribution to cinema?

Introduction / Context:
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences sometimes confers Honorary Oscars or special awards on filmmakers whose work has had a lasting impact on world cinema. India has produced many celebrated directors, but only a few have received such a rare recognition from the Academy. This question focuses on identifying the Indian filmmaker who received an Honorary Oscar for exceptional lifetime contribution to cinema, a fact frequently cited in both film history and exam level general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The award in question is a special or Honorary Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- The options include Mahesh Bhatt, Satyajit Ray, Mira Nair, G. P. Sippy, and Yash Chopra.
- We assume that you know basic biographical details of major Indian directors and their international recognition.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, you must connect Indian filmmakers with major international honours. Satyajit Ray, renowned for films like Pather Panchali, Aparajito, and Apur Sansar, is widely recognised as one of the greatest filmmakers of world cinema. In the early nineteen nineties, he received an Honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement, which was presented while he was seriously ill and accepted from his hospital bed via video. None of the other directors listed have received such a special Oscar, even though they are significant figures in Indian cinema.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which Indian director is regularly mentioned in the context of an Honorary Academy Award.
Step 2: Remember that Satyajit Ray is often described in textbooks as the Indian filmmaker who received a special Oscar.
Step 3: Consider that Mahesh Bhatt, Mira Nair, G. P. Sippy, and Yash Chopra are influential but have not been honoured with this particular award.
Step 4: Match this recollection with the options and clearly identify Satyajit Ray.
Step 5: Confirm your reasoning by recalling that many exam questions repeat the line Satyajit Ray received a special Oscar for lifetime achievement.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard exam guides on honours and awards usually have a direct statement: Satyajit Ray, the legendary Indian director, was awarded an Honorary Oscar for his contribution to world cinema. No similar statement exists for the other options. Reviewing such guides before the exam helps fix this association firmly in memory.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mahesh Bhatt is a noted Indian filmmaker and producer but has not received an Honorary Oscar from the Academy.

Mira Nair is an internationally acclaimed director known for films like Salaam Bombay and Monsoon Wedding, yet she has not been honoured with a special Oscar.

G. P. Sippy is known as the producer of Sholay and other films, but there is no record of him receiving an Honorary Academy Award.

Yash Chopra, often called the king of romance in Hindi cinema, has received many awards in India and abroad, but not a special Oscar from the Academy.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes incorrectly assume that any globally known Indian director might have received an Honorary Oscar. This leads to confusion between names like Mira Nair and Yash Chopra. To avoid this, remember that in mainstream exam material, the only Indian filmmaker consistently mentioned with an Honorary Oscar is Satyajit Ray.

Final Answer:
The Indian film personality honoured with a special Honorary Oscar for lifetime contribution to cinema is Satyajit Ray.