The Government of India has reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), bringing together a diverse group of names from Indian cinema, music, literature, television and the arts. The new 18-member board has been constituted with immediate effect for a period of three years or until further orders, according to the notification issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on September 16, 2026.
The new board includes several familiar faces from the entertainment industry, with Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Pankaj Tripathi, Rupali Ganguly, Priyadarshan and Ricky Kej among the appointed members. Their inclusion brings performers, filmmakers and creative professionals into the body responsible for the certification of films for theatrical exhibition in India.
According to the government notification, the reconstituted CBFC includes Vinod Anupam, Manoj Joshi, Abhishek Jain, Ricky Kej, Priyadarshan, Suniel Shetty, Hansraj Hans, Supriya Yarlagadda, Yatindra Mishra, Rupali Ganguly, Preity Zinta, Nila Madhab Panda, Pankaj Tripathi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Pallavi Joshi, Nishigandha Wad, Waman Kendre and Ramesh Patange. The appointments have been made under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, read with the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.
For Bollywood audiences, the inclusion of Preity Zinta and Suniel Shetty is particularly notable. Both actors have enjoyed long careers in Hindi cinema, appearing in films across genres and generations. Their new roles will see them participate in the wider certification framework rather than being involved solely as performers.
Pankaj Tripathi and Rupali Ganguly are also among the prominent acting personalities joining the board. Tripathi is known for his extensive work across films and streaming projects, while Ganguly has remained a familiar television face. Their appointment adds performers with experience in different areas of India's entertainment industry to the newly constituted body.
Filmmaker Priyadarshan, meanwhile, brings decades of experience behind the camera. The filmmaker has worked across Malayalam, Hindi and other Indian-language industries, directing films spanning comedy, drama, action and other genres. Music composer Ricky Kej, who has won Grammy Awards for his work, is another prominent creative professional on the new board.
The list also includes personalities from outside mainstream acting. Nila Madhab Panda is a filmmaker known for environmentally themed cinema, while Yatindra Mishra is associated with Hindi literature and music scholarship. Hansraj Hans brings experience from music and public life, while Waman Kendre is associated with theatre. The composition therefore extends beyond a conventional film-industry-only panel.
The CBFC plays a central role in India's theatrical film ecosystem. Unlike curated OTT content, which follows a different regulatory framework, films intended for theatrical exhibition require certification before they can be publicly screened in India. The certification system includes categories such as U, UA and A, depending on the nature and suitability of the content.
The reconstitution comes at a time when India's film industry is producing content across an increasingly broad range of languages, genres and formats. The new members will therefore be part of a board dealing with films that range from mainstream commercial cinema to independent productions and content dealing with more complex social themes.
With an 18-member panel featuring actors, filmmakers, musicians, writers and theatre professionals, the new CBFC board brings together a wide range of creative backgrounds. Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Pankaj Tripathi, Rupali Ganguly, Priyadarshan and Ricky Kej are among the most recognisable names on the list, while the remaining members represent different corners of India's wider cultural landscape.
The newly constituted board will now begin its three-year term, unless the government issues further orders earlier. Its work will directly intersect with the theatrical release pipeline of films across India, making the appointments significant for filmmakers, producers and audiences alike.