# Centre names Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty to CBFC board 2026-09-16T19:47:11+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 4 independent outlets The Centre reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on Wednesday with an 18-member panel that includes actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Pallavi Joshi and Prosenjit Chatterjee, filmmaker Priyadarshan, and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej. Chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati continues at the helm. The board will serve a three-year term or until further orders. The previous panel, formed in August 2017, had its tenure expire in 2020 but members continued under rules that allow incumbents to stay until successors are appointed. Only theatre director Waman Kendre and writer Ramesh Patange have been retained from the outgoing board. Cinema Express and Onmanorama report that several new members, including Roopali Ganguly and Hans Raj Hans, have links to the BJP or RSS. The reconstitution follows the CBFC's first board meeting in six years on August 29. Under the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024, the board must now meet at least once every quarter. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Cinema Express and Onmanorama both note that several new members have links to the BJP or RSS, a detail omitted by Odisha TV and NDTV Profit. This contrast frames the reconstitution as either a routine bureaucratic update or a politically lopsided appointment. The absence of the political affiliation in the shorter reports may reflect a wire-style priority for speed and headline names. The board's first meeting in six years and the extended tenure of the previous panel suggest structural neglect, regardless of who fills the seats. The next test is whether the CBFC's quarterly meeting requirement, under the new rules, improves certification timelines. ## Coverage - odishatv.in (neutral report) Leads with a list of celebrity members, omits political affiliations of appointees or delays in reconstitution - ndtvprofit.com (neutral report) Brief wire-style list, no political or critical framing - ndtvprofit.com (neutral report) Brief wire-style list, no political or critical framing - cinemaexpress.com (government critical) Highlights BJP links of several new members and extended tenure of old board - onmanorama.com (government critical) Notes BJP links of members and political background of Pallavi Joshi, critical tone on tenure delay Tags: CBFC, Pankaj Tripathi, Preity Zinta, Priyadarshan, Shashi Shekhar Vempati, Suniel Shetty Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/centre-names-18-member-cbfc-board-with-preity-zinta-suniel-shetty/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/centre-names-18-member-cbfc-board-with-preity-zinta-suniel-shetty/#story-in-brief