Centre reconstitutes CBFC with 18-member board, Suniel Shetty and Preity Zinta among inductees
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has reconstituted the CBFC with 18 members drawn from cinema, music, literature and the arts, effective immediately for three years.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification, bringing in an 18-member panel that draws on cinema, music, literature and the arts. A notification dated September 16, 2026, issued from New Delhi, states that the new Board takes effect immediately and will hold office for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The reconstitution has been carried out in exercise of powers under Section 3(1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, read with Rule 3 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. The members are expected to form the Board's Revising Committee.
Actors Suniel Shetty and Pankaj Tripathi, actress Preity Zinta, filmmaker Priyadarshan, Grammy-winning composer Ricky Kej, singer Hansraj Hans, filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda and actor-director Rupali Ganguly are among the prominent names on the list.
The full roster comprises 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 heavy presence of entertainment-industry figures is notable: Shetty and Zinta bring acting experience, Priyadarshan and Panda represent filmmaking, and Kej stands for the music fraternity.
The CBFC functions under the Cinematograph Act and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, examining films submitted for public exhibition and granting certification in line with the applicable rules.