Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, Pankaj Tripathi among 18 on new censor board panel

Actors Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty, and Pankaj Tripathi are among 18 members appointed to the newly reconstituted Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) panel for a three-year term.

The reconstituted 18-member board features prominent film industry figures, including actors Manoj Joshi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Pallavi Joshi, and Rupali Ganguly, alongside filmmaker Priyadarshan and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej. Other appointees on the new panel include Vinod Anupam, Abhishek Jain, Hansraj Hans, Supriya Yarlagadda, Yatindra Mishra, Neela Madhab Panda, Nishigandha Wad, Waman Kendre, and Ramesh



Patange.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the fresh panel under Section 3(1) of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, read with Rule 3 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024. Taking effect immediately, the revamped composition arrives at a time when film classification frequently intersects with creative and public debate.

An official confirmed that the reconstitution had been pending, as several terms from the previous board — last reconstituted in 2017 with 12 members — had lapsed. While the composition of the panel has changed, the statutory duties and regulatory framework governing the censor board remain unchanged.