Changes in the people overseeing film certification can bring fresh attention to how the industry and its content are examined. The latest development has put several familiar names from cinema, music, writing and theatre in the spotlight.
New CBFC Board
The Centre has reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with an 18-member panel. Shashi Shekhar Vempati, who was appointed CBFC chairperson in May 2026, continues in the position. The new board has been constituted with immediate effect for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
The members include actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Pallavi Joshi, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Rupali Ganguly, Manoj Joshi and Nishigandha Wad.
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Filmmaker Priyadarshan, filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda, filmmaker Abhishek Jain, musician Ricky Kej, producer Supriya Yarlagadda, poet Yatindra Mishra, film critic Vinod Anupam, singer Hansraj Hans, theatre personality Waman Kendre and writer Ramesh Patange are also part of the panel.
In exercise of the powers conferred under Cinematograph Act the Central Government has reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification @shashidigital pic.twitter.com/cjY2lyhCIP
— CBFC केंद्रीय फिल्म प्रमाणन बोर्ड (@CBFC_Bharat) September 16, 2026
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What Happened To The Previous Board?
The previous CBFC board was constituted in August 2017 for a three-year term. Its members continued beyond 2020 as the rules allowed them to remain in office until successors were appointed. Waman Kendre and Ramesh Patange are the two members from that panel who have been retained in the new board.
The outgoing panel also included Vidya Balan, Vivek Agnihotri, Mihir Bhutia, Gautami Tadimalla, Vani Tripathi Tikoo, Jeevitha Rajasekhar, T S Nagabharana and Naresh Chandra Lal.
CBFC And Recent Controversies
The CBFC has recently faced criticism over its certification decisions. Tom Holland and Zendaya-starrer Spider-Man: Brand New Day received a UA 13 certificate in India in July, with an eight-second kissing scene removed during certification.
The board also made headlines over Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan. Directed by H Vinoth and also featuring Mamitha Baiju, Bobby Deol and Pooja Hegde, the film's examining committee referred it to a revising committee following a complaint, delaying its planned release. The film was eventually released in July after the filmmakers' legal efforts did not provide relief.
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