India’s film certification landscape is heading into a new phase with former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati set to take charge as Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification. His appointment places a media technocrat and policy strategist at the helm of an institution that increasingly finds itself at the centre of conversations around cinema, regulation and creative freedom.
Vempati takes over from writer and lyricist Prasoon Joshi, who has recently been appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati. The leadership shift comes at a time when the entertainment industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by streaming platforms, evolving audience preferences and growing scrutiny around content standards.
The move also follows Vempati’s recent exit from the board of the Broadcast Audience Research Council, where he had served as a professional director since 2024. He confirmed his resignation from the television ratings body, citing personal reasons.
Over the years, Vempati has built a career that cuts across technology, governance and public communication. An IIT Bombay graduate, he spent more than a decade and a half at Infosys, where he worked in product strategy and digital innovation before moving into the media and policy ecosystem.
His entry into the public discourse space became more visible in 2013 when he joined NitiCentral as CEO. He later went on to head Prasar Bharati, where he played a key role in pushing digital modernisation efforts across Doordarshan and All India Radio. His tenure focused heavily on expanding the reach and relevance of India’s public broadcasting infrastructure in an increasingly digital media environment.
Apart from broadcasting, Vempati has remained associated with several policy and academic initiatives. He is linked with the DeepTech for Bharat Foundation and has also been involved with institutions connected to science, technology communication and mass media education.
His regulatory experience came into prominence due to the debate on television ratings that erupted in 2020. In 2020, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting formed a committee headed by him to review the existing policy structure for television rating agencies amidst allegations regarding TRP manipulation. The committee had to suggest reforms that could help in increasing transparency in the audience measurement system.
Now at the CBFC, Vempati enters an institution facing a very different set of pressures. The board’s role has become more sensitive in recent years as filmmakers, political groups and audiences continue to debate the boundaries between certification and censorship.
The rise of OTT platforms has further complicated the larger discussion around content regulation in India. Although streaming content does not fall directly under the CBFC’s certification framework, public conversations around films and series released online have intensified scrutiny on how content standards are interpreted across the broader entertainment ecosystem.
Industry observers are expected to closely watch how Vempati approaches issues related to certification norms, artistic freedom and regulatory consistency. With his background in technology and governance, many in the media industry believe his tenure could bring a more process-oriented and institutional approach to the functioning of the certification body.
His appointment also reflects the government’s continued preference for administrators with cross-sector experience to lead key media institutions at a time when India’s entertainment and broadcasting sectors are becoming larger, more complex and increasingly influenced by digital consumption patterns.
For filmmakers and production houses, the transition at the CBFC comes at a critical moment. The industry is navigating not just changing audience tastes but also heightened public sensitivity around political, social and cultural representation in cinema.
How the new chairperson balances regulation with creative expression may ultimately define the next phase of the CBFC’s role in India’s evolving media environment.
Also Read: Prasoon Joshi Appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati
