Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty Join New CBFC Board
Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty have joined the new Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The Government of India announced the reconstituted 18-member board on September 16, 2026.
The new CBFC panel will work for three years, unless the government issues further orders. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued the notification under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.
The new board includes several well-known names from Indian cinema, television, music, literature and theatre. Filmmaker Priyadarshan, actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, actor Manoj Joshi, actress Pallavi Joshi and television actor Rupali Ganguly are also part of the panel.
Also Read Jessica Alba Quick Face: The Primer Behind Her Instant Glow
Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej has also joined the board. Singer and former parliamentarian Hansraj Hans, filmmaker Abhishek Jain, producer Supriya Yarlagadda and film critic Vinod Anupam are among the other members.
Poet and writer Yatindra Mishra, filmmaker Neela Madhab Panda, actress Nishigandha Wad, theatre director Waman Kendre and writer Ramesh Patange complete the 18-member list. Kendre and Patange are the only two members from the previous board who have returned to the new panel.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati will continue as the CBFC chairperson. The new panel replaces the earlier board, which the Centre had last reconstituted in 2017. Members of that panel continued after their original terms ended because the government had not appointed a new board.
The CBFC plays a central role in India’s film certification system. It examines films before their public exhibition and assigns certification based on the applicable rules.
The arrival of major film personalities such as Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty gives the new panel strong representation from mainstream Indian cinema. The board also brings together people from different parts of the entertainment and cultural sectors.
The new members will now take part in the certification process during their three-year term. Their appointment comes as the CBFC continues to handle questions around film classification, edits and certification across India’s diverse film industries.
Also Read Luv Ranjan Introduces Six New Faces in Pehla Pyaar Doosri Baar
