# Centre reconstitutes CBFC with Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi among 18 members

2026-09-16T14:12:39+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

The central government on Wednesday reconstituted the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with an 18-member panel that includes actors Preity Zinta, Pankaj Tripathi, Suniel Shetty, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and filmmaker Priyadarshan, the information and broadcasting ministry announced. The board, which will function under chairperson Shashi Shekhar Vempati, has been formed for a three-year term effective immediately, the ministry said. The last formal reconstitution was in August 2017, members had continued beyond 2020 under provisions allowing them to stay until successors were appointed. Five of the new members are women. Only two members from the previous board, theatre director Waman Kendre and writer Ramesh Patange, have been retained. The outgoing panel had included actor Vidya Balan, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, and others. The board handles certification of films for public exhibition under the Cinematograph Act.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All five outlets delivered straight wire-style reports with no detectable slant, focusing on the list of appointees, the three-year term, and the procedural basis under the Cinematograph Act. The Hindu added the context of the previous board's composition and the two retained members, while Times of India's second source noted the CBFC's separate action on the Mirzapur song, information the other outlets omitted. The uniform coverage suggests this is a routine bureaucratic notification rather than a politically charged appointment. The next practical test will be whether the new board revises any pending certification guidelines in the coming months.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/preity-zinta-pankaj-tripathi-suniel-shetty-on-reconstituted-cbfc/articleshow/134289071.cms>
  Straight news with added note about separate CBFC action on a song
- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/centre-reconstitutes-cbfc-preity-zinta-pankaj-tripathi-among-18-members/article71472888.ece>
  Factual reporting with additional context on previous board and members retained
- livemint.com (neutral report) <https://www.livemint.com/news/india/centre-reconstitutes-cbfc-preity-zinta-suniel-shetty-pankaj-tripathi-among-18-members-full-list-here-11789566254275.html>
  Agency-style report with full list and procedural details
- indiatvnews.com (neutral report) <https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/news/preity-zinta-pankaj-tripathi-suniel-shetty-among-18-members-of-reconstituted-censor-board-cbfc-new-members-2026-09-16-1054428>
  Brief announcement with no analysis or opinion
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/cbfc-reconstitutes-board-preity-zinta-roopali-ganguly-pallavi-joshi-pankaj-tripathi-join-the-new-18-member-committee/articleshow/134289104.cms>
  Straight news with added note about separate CBFC action on a song

Tags: CBFC, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Pankaj Tripathi, Preity Zinta, Suniel Shetty
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