The Centre has reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification with 18 members, including Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Pankaj Tripathi, Priyadarshan, Ricky Kej and Pallavi Joshi.Noida, Uttar Pradesh : Actors Preity Zinta and Suniel Shetty are among 18 people appointed to the reconstituted Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), after the Centre issued a fresh notification overhauling the film certification body. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting notified the new board on September 16, 2026, with immediate effect. Alongside Zinta and Shetty, the panel includes Pankaj Tripathi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Roopali Ganguly, Pallavi Joshi, Manoj Joshi, filmmaker Priyadarshan and Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej.
CBFC New Members 2026: Full List of All 18 Appointees
The reconstituted Central Board of Film Certification comprises:
- Vinod Anupam
- Manoj Joshi
- Abhishek Jain
- Ricky Kej
- Priyadarshan
- Suniel Shetty
- Hansraj Hans
- Supriya Yarlagadda
- Yatindra Mishra
- Roopali Ganguly
- Preity Zinta
- Neela Madhab Panda
- Pankaj Tripathi
- Prosenjit Chatterjee
- Pallavi Joshi
- Nishigandha Wad
- Waman Kendre
- Ramesh Patange
CBFC Board Tenure
As per the official notification, the reconstituted CBFC board will remain in office for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The reconstitution has been carried out under Section 3(1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, read with Rule 3 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. The timing is notable because the previous CBFC board was constituted in August 2017 and continued beyond its original tenure until successors were appointed.
Who Heads the CBFC?
The new members will work under CBFC Chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati, who was appointed in May 2026 for a three-year term. Vempati, an IIT Bombay alumnus and former Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, succeeded lyricist Prasoon Joshi, who stepped down as CBFC chairperson after being appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati.
What Does the CBFC Actually Do?
The Central Board of Film Certification is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that regulates the public exhibition of films in India under the Cinematograph Act, 1952. Films intended for public exhibition must receive CBFC certification. Under the current certification framework, films may receive U, UA 7+, UA 13+, UA 16+, A or S certificates, depending on the intended audience and content. The certification process involves Examining Committees drawn primarily from advisory-panel members and examining officers. If a film is referred for reconsideration, a Revising Committee may include members of the CBFC Board as well as advisory-panel members. For the newly appointed members, therefore, the role is not merely ceremonial. Board members form part of the statutory structure that oversees film certification and can participate in revising committees that reconsider certification decisions.
