The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has been reconstituted with an 18-member board for the next three years. The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the new panel, with Shashi Shekhar Vempati continuing as chairperson.
The new board brings together personalities from different areas of India's entertainment and cultural industries, including actors, filmmakers, musicians, theatre personalities, writers and critics.
Among the prominent names appointed to the board are actors Pankaj Tripathi, Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Rupali Ganguly, Pallavi Joshi, Manoj Joshi and Nishigandha Wad.
Pankaj Tripathi, known for his work across mainstream cinema, independent films and OTT projects, joins the panel with years of experience in the Hindi film industry. Preity Zinta, one of Hindi cinema's recognised faces, has been part of several popular films including Dil Chahta Hai and Veer-Zaara.
Suniel Shetty, who has worked in Hindi cinema for more than three decades, also becomes part of the new board. Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, popularly known as Bumba Da, represents the Bengali film industry. His career includes both mainstream films and critically acclaimed projects such as Chokher Bali and Autograph.
Television actor Rupali Ganguly, known widely for Anupamaa and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, has also been included. Actor and filmmaker Pallavi Joshi, who has worked in both mainstream and parallel cinema, is another member of the panel. Manoj Joshi and Nishigandha Wad bring experience from Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati cinema and theatre.
The filmmaker category includes Priyadarshan, Nila Madhab Panda, Abhishek Jain and Supriya Yarlagadda. Priyadarshan has worked extensively across Malayalam and Hindi cinema and is known for films including Hera Pheri and Bhool Bhulaiyaa.
National Award-winning filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda has directed films such as I Am Kalam and Kadvi Hawa, while Gujarati filmmaker Abhishek Jain is known for projects including Kevi Rite Jaish and Bey Yaar. Supriya Yarlagadda brings experience from the Telugu film industry and has worked as an actor and producer.
The board also includes theatre veteran Waman Kendre, who continues from the previous term. Kendre is a former Director of the National School of Drama and has extensive experience in Indian theatre.
The panel has representation from music and literature as well. Three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej joins the board, along with Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans. Author, poet and Indian classical music scholar Yatindra Mishra is also a member.
Film critic and author Vinod Anupam and writer and social thinker Ramesh Patange complete the panel.
The reconstituted CBFC board will serve for three years and will be involved in the certification process for films released in India. The inclusion of members from different creative fields gives the new panel representation across cinema, television, music, theatre and literature.
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