Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty Join Reconstituted CBFC Panel Alongside Priyadarshan and Ricky Kej: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been reconstituted with an 18-member panel bringing together prominent personalities from Indian cinema, television, music, theatre, literature and film criticism. Among the best-known names appointed are actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Manoj Joshi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Pallavi Joshi and Roopali Ganguly, along with filmmaker Priyadarshan and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the new panel on September 16. The appointments have taken effect immediately and the members will serve 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.
A Diverse Line-Up From Across Indian Entertainment
The new panel brings together professionals with experience across multiple creative disciplines. Alongside major film stars, the board includes filmmakers, producers, musicians, writers, theatre practitioners and a film critic.
The 18 members are:
- Vinod Anupam – film critic
- Manoj Joshi – actor
- Abhishek Jain – filmmaker
- Ricky Kej – musician and Grammy Award winner
- Priyadarshan – filmmaker
- Suniel Shetty – actor
- Hansraj Hans – singer
- Supriya Yarlagadda – producer
- Yatindra Mishra – poet and writer
- Roopali Ganguly – actor
- Preity Zinta – actor
- Neela Madhab Panda – filmmaker
- Pankaj Tripathi – actor
- Prosenjit Chatterjee – actor
- Pallavi Joshi – actor and producer
- Nishigandha Wad – actor and writer
- Waman Kendre – theatre director and academic
- Ramesh Patange – writer and social commentator.
Preity Zinta and Pankaj Tripathi Among High-Profile Appointments
Preity Zinta, known for films including Dil Chahta Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Veer-Zaara, joins the certification panel with extensive experience in mainstream Hindi cinema. Pankaj Tripathi brings a different performance background, with notable work in films such as Gangs of Wasseypur, Masaan, Stree and Mimi, as well as the Mirzapur franchise.
The panel also includes veteran actor Suniel Shetty and Bengali cinema star Prosenjit Chatterjee. Manoj Joshi, Pallavi Joshi, Roopali Ganguly and Nishigandha Wad add extensive experience from both film and television.
Filmmaker Priyadarshan brings decades of experience across Malayalam, Hindi and other Indian-language cinema, while Ricky Kej contributes a background in music and international recognition, including multiple Grammy Awards.
New Panel Takes Shape After Extended Gap
The reconstitution is notable because the previous CBFC board had originally been constituted in August 2017 for a three-year term. Members subsequently continued beyond that period under provisions allowing them to remain in office until successors were appointed.
The new appointments also follow the CBFC’s first board meeting in six years, held on August 29, 2026. Under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the board is required to meet at least once every quarter.
Only two members of the previous panel, theatre director Waman Kendre and writer Ramesh Patange, have been retained on the newly constituted board, according to Cinema Express.
Role in India’s Film Certification System
The CBFC is a statutory body responsible for examining films and granting certification for public exhibition in India. The new members will participate in the certification process within the existing statutory and regulatory framework.
The reconstitution comes at a time when film certification continues to attract significant public and industry attention. Recent cases involving films such as Satluj—formerly Punjab 95—and other productions have highlighted debates around requested modifications, certification timelines and the relationship between creative expression and regulatory requirements.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati continues as CBFC Chairperson, having been appointed to the position in May 2026.
The arrival of the new 18-member panel places a broad cross-section of India’s creative community inside the country’s film-certification framework, with the members now set to serve for the newly notified three-year term.
