Newly Reconstituted CBFC Board: Meet the 18 Members Appointed by the Government
The Government of India has reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with an 18-member board drawn from different areas of India’s entertainment and cultural ecosystem. The appointments were announced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 16 September 2026 and take effect immediately for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The CBFC is the statutory body responsible for certifying films for public exhibition in India. Its decisions can determine whether a film receives a U, UA or A certificate and whether modifications are required before public exhibition. The new board therefore brings together people with experience in acting, filmmaking, music, literature, theatre, television and other cultural fields.
Who are the 18 new CBFC members?
The newly constituted board consists of 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 is notable because it does not consist exclusively of mainstream Hindi-film personalities. Instead, it includes representatives associated with regional cinema, music, literature and theatre.
1. Vinod Anupam
Vinod Anupam is among the 18 members of the new board. His appointment adds another non-mainstream entertainment and cultural perspective to the panel.
2. Manoj Joshi
Veteran actor Manoj Joshi is another prominent name. Known for extensive work in Hindi cinema, television and theatre, Joshi brings decades of acting experience to the board.
His career has included both mainstream commercial productions and character-driven performances, giving him familiarity with different forms of storytelling and screen representation.
3. Abhishek Jain
For Gujarati audiences, one of the most interesting appointments is Abhishek Jain.
Jain is an Ahmedabad-based filmmaker and producer associated with the modern revival of Gujarati cinema. He directed Kevi Rite Jaish in 2012 and Bey Yaar in 2014. He subsequently made his Hindi directorial debut with Hum Do Hamare Do.
Jain also co-founded CineMan Productions. His presence gives Gujarati cinema representation on the national certification board.
4. Ricky Kej
Grammy Award-winning composer and musician Ricky Kej brings the perspective of India’s contemporary music industry.
Kej has worked extensively in music, environmental themes and international collaborations. His inclusion is significant because films increasingly depend on music and sound as important components of storytelling.
5. Priyadarshan
Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan is among the most experienced directors on the panel.
He has worked extensively across Malayalam, Hindi and other Indian-language cinema and has directed films spanning comedy, drama, action and historical subjects.
His long experience as a filmmaker provides direct familiarity with the creative and commercial realities faced by directors.
6. Suniel Shetty
Actor and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty is another major film-industry figure on the board.
With a career spanning several decades, Shetty has worked across action films, dramas, comedies and television projects.
7. Hansraj Hans
Singer and former parliamentarian Hansraj Hans represents the music and cultural sphere.
His long association with Punjabi music and India’s broader cultural landscape gives the board representation beyond the film industry itself.
8. Supriya Yarlagadda
Producer Supriya Yarlagadda brings experience from the Telugu film industry.
Her appointment is significant in the context of the increasingly pan-Indian nature of Indian cinema, where films from regional industries regularly reach audiences across the country.
9. Yatindra Mishra
Writer and lyricist Yatindra Mishra adds a literary dimension to the board.
His work has involved literature, poetry and music, making him part of the panel’s representation of India’s wider literary and artistic traditions.
10. Roopali Ganguly
Television actor Roopali Ganguly is another recognisable name.
Ganguly has worked extensively in Indian television and has also appeared in films. Her appointment brings television-industry experience into a board primarily associated with cinema.
11. Preity Zinta
One of the most recognisable names on the list is actor Preity Zinta.
Zinta has enjoyed a long career in Hindi cinema and has also worked as a producer. Her appointment gives the board representation from an actor’s perspective, particularly from someone who has experienced the film industry over several decades.
12. Neela Madhab Panda
National Award-winning filmmaker Neela Madhab Panda represents India’s regional and socially themed filmmaking traditions.
He is particularly associated with Odia cinema and documentaries. His presence adds another regional perspective to the board.
13. Pankaj Tripathi
Actor Pankaj Tripathi is among the most prominent contemporary performers appointed to the board.
His career includes Hindi cinema, streaming productions and television. His extensive experience in character-driven roles gives him familiarity with a wide range of subjects and storytelling formats.
14. Prosenjit Chatterjee
Bengali cinema receives representation through veteran actor Prosenjit Chatterjee.
A major figure in Bengali cinema, Chatterjee has worked across commercial and critically acclaimed films and has also appeared in productions outside Bengal.
15. Pallavi Joshi
Actor and producer Pallavi Joshi is another established film personality on the board.
Her career encompasses acting, television and film production. She has also been associated with films dealing with historical and contemporary subjects.
16. Nishigandha Wad
Actor and academic Nishigandha Wad brings experience from Marathi cinema, television and cultural studies.
Her inclusion further broadens the linguistic and regional representation of the board.
17. Waman Kendre
Theatre director Waman Kendre brings substantial experience from Indian theatre.
Theatre has historically played an important role in India’s performing arts ecosystem, and his presence provides the board with expertise beyond screen-based entertainment.
18. Ramesh Patange
Writer and social commentator Ramesh Patange completes the 18-member list.
His inclusion adds another perspective from the field of writing and social commentary.
A board spanning several Indian cultural traditions
One of the notable features of the new CBFC composition is its breadth. The members come from Hindi cinema, Gujarati cinema, Bengali cinema, Marathi cinema, Telugu cinema, television, music, literature and theatre.
This is different from viewing film certification purely through the lens of Bollywood. India’s film industry is now highly multilingual and increasingly interconnected. Films originating in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi and other languages regularly reach audiences throughout India.
The new composition therefore places people from several parts of India’s cultural ecosystem within the same institution.
Why does the CBFC matter?
The CBFC’s role is more accurately described as film certification rather than simply film censorship. It operates under the Cinematograph Act and the applicable certification rules.
The board examines films submitted for public exhibition and determines the appropriate certification category under the law. Certification can involve classification according to age suitability and, where legally applicable, modifications to content.
The new board arrives at a time when questions surrounding film certification, cuts, delays and transparency have attracted considerable public discussion. The previous board had remained in place beyond its original three-year term, with the reconstitution eventually taking place in September 2026.
The CBFC also held a board meeting in August 2026 after a long gap, with questions being raised about the functioning and composition of Revising Committees.
What can be expected from the new board?
The appointment of 18 members does not by itself determine how individual films will be certified. Actual certification decisions will depend on the applicable law, rules, examining committees and the circumstances of individual films.
However, the new panel brings together a notably broad collection of professional experiences. Actors can contribute an understanding of performance and storytelling, filmmakers understand production realities, musicians bring expertise in sound and music, writers contribute literary perspectives, while theatre professionals bring experience from another major Indian performing tradition.
The new CBFC board will serve for three years, unless the government orders otherwise earlier.
Ultimately, its work will be watched closely by filmmakers, producers, actors, audiences and the wider entertainment industry. As Indian cinema becomes increasingly multilingual and pan-Indian, the functioning of the certification system will remain an important part of the country’s rapidly evolving film ecosystem.
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