For anyone watching a film in an Indian theatre, the CBFC is part of the process long before the opening credits roll.
The Central Board of Film Certification decides how a film can be publicly exhibited and under which certification category.
Now, the board has been reconstituted with 18 new members, including Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Priyadarshan and others.
The change comes nine years after the last formal reconstitution in 2017 and months after Shashi Shekhar Vempati took over as chairperson.
So, what exactly does the CBFC do, and how does its board work?
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First, What Does The CBFC Actually Do?
The Central Board of Film Certification, or CBFC, is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Its job is to examine films before their public exhibition in India and issue certificates under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
The law provides for different forms of certification, including unrestricted exhibition and exhibition with age-based or audience-specific restrictions. The current law also provides for UA markers such as UA 7+, UA 13+ and UA 16+.
That means the CBFC is not simply deciding whether a film is "good" or "bad".
Its formal role is to examine films and decide whether they can be publicly exhibited and, if so, under which certification conditions. The certification framework also provides for appeals and reviews in specified circumstances.
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Why Does India Need A Film Certification Board?
Films can contain violence, sexual content, strong language, themes involving drugs, or material that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
A certification system gives audiences information about the intended age suitability of a film before they watch it.
The CBFC's certification process operates under the Cinematograph Act and the rules and guidelines made under it. Its regional offices are supported by advisory panels, which examine films and make recommendations to the Board.
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Who Was On The Board Before This Change?
The previous board dates back to August 2017.
The government notification at the time appointed 12 members, including Vidya Balan, Vivek Agnihotri, Gautami Tadimalla, Vani Tripathi Tikoo, Jeevitha Rajasekhar, T.S. Nagabharana, Mihir Bhutia, Naresh Chandra Lal, Waman Kendre and Ramesh Patange, along with Narendra Kohli and Neil Herbert Nongkynrih.
Narendra Kohli died in 2021 and Nongkynrih died in 2022. Their vacancies were not filled with new appointments.
As a result, 10 members remained from the earlier panel. They continued beyond the original three-year period because a successor board had not been appointed.
Waman Kendre and Ramesh Patange are the only two members of that previous board who have been retained in the newly constituted panel.
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So, Who Are The New 18 Members?
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued the new notification on 16 September 2026.
The 18-member board comprises:
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
Ramesh Patange
The panel brings together people from different parts of the entertainment and arts ecosystem.
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Why Were These Members Selected?
This is where the official record is important.
The government notification confirms the appointments and shows a board made up of people from cinema, television, music, literature, theatre and other creative fields.
Under Section 3 of the Cinematograph Act, the Central Government appoints the CBFC chairperson and between 12 and 25 other members. The government's own CBFC material describes the members as people drawn from different spheres of society.
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How Long Will The New Board Stay?
The new board took effect immediately from 16 September 2026.
The 18 members have been appointed for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier, according to the Ministry's notification.
The reconstitution follows another major change at the top.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati became CBFC chairperson in May 2026, succeeding Prasoon Joshi, who had led the board since August 2017. The CBFC's official website lists Vempati as the current chairperson.
With the board now expanded to 18 members, the people examining India's films have changed significantly. What remains the same is the legal framework under which the CBFC operates.
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TL;DR | News At a Glance
Why has the CBFC been reconstituted?
The Central Government reconstituted the CBFC on 16 September 2026, nine years after its last formal reconstitution in August 2017. The earlier board had 10 surviving members after two members died and vacancies were not filled.
Who are the new CBFC members?
The 18-member panel includes Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Priyadarshan, Ricky Kej, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Roopali Ganguly, Pallavi Joshi and others.
Who are the members retained from the previous board?
Waman Kendre and Ramesh Patange are the two members retained from the earlier panel.
Who appoints CBFC members?
The Central Government appoints the CBFC chairperson and between 12 and 25 other members under Section 3 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
How long will the new members serve?
The new members have been appointed for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
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