Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty Join New 18-Member CBFC Board

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has a new 18-member board, with prominent names from Indian cinema, music, theatre and literature joining the film-certification body. Actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty are among the newly appointed members.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the reconstitution on September 16, 2026. The new board takes effect immediately and will have a tenure of three years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. The appointments have been made under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, read with the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024.

Who are the new CBFC members?

The government notification names 18 members from a range of professional backgrounds.

The complete list includes 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 and Ramesh Patange.

The composition goes beyond mainstream actors. Filmmaker Priyadarshan, composer Ricky Kej, filmmaker Neela Madhab Panda, theatre personality Waman Kendre, writer and poet Yatindra Mishra, and producer Supriya Yarlagadda are among those joining the panel.

The official government notification confirms all 18 appointments and their three-year tenure.

Why the new board matters

The CBFC plays a statutory role in examining films submitted for public exhibition and granting certification under India's film-certification framework.

The reconstitution comes at a notable time for the organisation. The previous board had been constituted in 2017, and the CBFC held its first board meeting in six years on August 29, 2026. That meeting included discussions about the film-review process and the functioning of Revising Committees.

The new appointments therefore bring a fresh group of members into an institution that has recently been discussing its own functioning and the implementation of the 2024 certification rules.

Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty bring industry experience

The inclusion of well-known actors is likely to make the new board particularly noticeable within the film industry.

Preity Zinta has had a long career in Hindi cinema and has also worked as a producer. Pankaj Tripathi has built a wide-ranging filmography across mainstream cinema and streaming projects, while Suniel Shetty has worked across acting and film production during a career spanning several decades.

Their appointment places experienced performers alongside professionals from filmmaking, music, theatre and writing.

The government's announcement itself does not assign individual members separate areas of responsibility; their appointments are to the reconstituted board as a whole.

A broader mix of creative backgrounds

One of the most notable features of the new panel is the range of disciplines represented.

Priyadarshan brings decades of experience as a filmmaker. Ricky Kej represents the music industry, while Neela Madhab Panda is known for filmmaking. Yatindra Mishra's background is in writing and poetry, and Waman Kendre has extensive theatre experience.

The board also includes performers such as Manoj Joshi, Roopali Ganguly, Pallavi Joshi and Prosenjit Chatterjee.

The Indian Express reported that officials described the new composition as having regional diversity and including younger filmmakers, although those observations are attributed to officials rather than being part of the government's formal notification.

What changes for filmmakers and audiences?

The reconstituted board does not create a new certification system by itself. The CBFC continues to operate within the legal framework governing film certification.

However, the appointment of a new group of members matters because the board forms part of the institutional structure overseeing film certification in India.

Under the 2024 certification rules, the CBFC's functioning includes regular board meetings and procedures concerning film examination and certification. Recent reporting has also highlighted discussions around Revising Committees and the interpretation of certification categories.

For filmmakers, the practical impact will ultimately be seen through the board's functioning rather than simply through the names on the appointment list.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The significance of the announcement lies less in the celebrity quotient of the new board and more in its mix of professional backgrounds.

Bringing actors, directors, musicians, writers and theatre professionals onto the same statutory board creates a panel with experience across several areas of India's creative industry. At the same time, the CBFC's decisions remain governed by the applicable legislation and certification rules.

The reconstitution also comes after a period in which the board's functioning has received renewed attention. With a new three-year term now beginning, the focus will gradually move from who has been appointed to how the reconstituted board operates.For the film industry, that is ultimately the more consequential part of this change.

Sources & Verification

This report was prepared primarily from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's official September 16, 2026 notification, which confirms the 18 appointments, their immediate effect and three-year tenure. Recent reporting by The Indian Express was consulted for context regarding the previous board, the August 2026 CBFC meeting and discussions surrounding the certification process.