Published on: September 16, 2026 at 10:55 PM

Meet the 18 New CBFC Members: Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty & Others

New CBFC Board Members: Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi & Suniel Shetty.

September 16, 2026: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been reconstituted with an 18-member board featuring several familiar names from Indian cinema, television, music, literature and theatre. Actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty are among the prominent names appointed to the new board.

The reconstituted CBFC also includes filmmaker Priyadarshan, actor-filmmaker Pallavi Joshi, Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, musician Ricky Kej, television actor Roopali Ganguly and several other personalities from India’s creative industries.

Who Are the 18 New CBFC Members?

Here is the full list of members appointed to the reconstituted Central Board of Film Certification:

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

Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty Join the Board

The inclusion of Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty has attracted attention because all three are established names in Indian cinema.

Preity Zinta has had a long career in Hindi films, while Pankaj Tripathi is known for work across mainstream and independent cinema. Suniel Shetty has worked as an actor and producer and has remained a familiar figure in Indian entertainment.

The board also includes Manoj Joshi, Pallavi Joshi and Prosenjit Chatterjee, along with filmmaker Priyadarshan. Their presence brings experience from different parts of India’s film industry.

Priyadarshan, Ricky Kej and Other Creative Professionals

The new CBFC members are not limited to actors. Grammy Award-winning musician Ricky Kej, filmmaker Neela Madhab Panda, singer Hansraj Hans, poet Yatindra Mishra and theatre personality Waman Kendre are also part of the 18-member panel.

The mix brings together professionals from cinema, music, television, writing and theatre. This gives the reconstituted board representation across several areas of India’s creative sector.

Who Is the CBFC Chairperson?

Shashi Shekhar Vempati remains the CBFC Chairperson. The September 16 announcement concerns the reconstitution of the board’s members and does not indicate a change to his position.

Vempati took over the chairmanship earlier in 2026 after Prasoon Joshi, who had served as CBFC chairperson since 2017.

What Does the CBFC Do?

The Central Board of Film Certification is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Its main responsibility is to examine films and certify them for public exhibition in India under the applicable legal framework.

In simple terms, films go through the certification process before public exhibition. Depending on their content, films can receive different certification categories based on the applicable rules and guidelines.

Why Does the New CBFC Board Matter?

The reconstitution is significant because the CBFC plays an important role in India’s film-certification system. The new panel brings together people with experience in different areas of the creative industry.

The development also comes at a time when film certification continues to be an important subject for filmmakers and audiences, particularly when movies deal with mature themes, violence, language and other sensitive content.

What Is Confirmed About the New CBFC Board?

The CBFC has been reconstituted with 18 members.
The new board was announced on September 16, 2026.
Preity Zinta is among the newly appointed members.
Pankaj Tripathi is also part of the new board.
Suniel Shetty has been appointed as a member.
Priyadarshan, Pallavi Joshi, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Ricky Kej are also included.
The board has representation from different creative fields.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati remains CBFC Chairperson.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the new CBFC members in 2026?

The 18-member board includes Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Priyadarshan, Pallavi Joshi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Ricky Kej, Roopali Ganguly and other members listed above.

How many members are on the new CBFC board?

The reconstituted CBFC board has 18 members.

Is Preity Zinta a CBFC member?

Yes. Preity Zinta is among the 18 members appointed to the reconstituted CBFC board in September 2026.

Are Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty on the new CBFC board?

Yes. Both Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty are included in the new 18-member CBFC panel.

Who is the CBFC Chairperson in 2026?

Shashi Shekhar Vempati is the CBFC Chairperson.

How long will the new CBFC board serve?

The reconstituted board has been appointed for a period of three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier, according to reports citing the government notification.

Conclusion

The 2026 CBFC reconstitution brings several well-known names from Indian entertainment and the wider creative sector into the film-certification body. With actors such as Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi and Suniel Shetty joining filmmakers, musicians, writers and theatre professionals, the new 18-member board represents a broad mix of industry experience.

The board will now be involved in the CBFC’s work of examining and certifying films for public exhibition in India. Its functioning will be closely watched by filmmakers and audiences as new releases move through the certification process.

Editorial Note

Editorial Note: The official CBFC website may take time to reflect the newly reconstituted board. This article is based on the September 16, 2026 government notification as reported by reputable news outlets, with the names cross-checked across multiple reports.

Sources

Business Today – CBFC Gets New 18-Member Panel