Shashi Shekhar Vempati Takes Charge as CBFC Chairperson

Shashi Shekhar Vempati, the former chief executive officer of Prasar Bharati, has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for a tenure of three years. He is expected to assume office immediately, succeeding Prasoon Joshi, who recently moved to become chairman of Prasar Bharati after a vacancy of nearly five months following the resignation of Navneet Kumar Sehgal. Vempati brings a wealth of experience in media, broadcasting, and public communication, having previously overseen several digital initiatives across Doordarshan and All India Radio during his tenure at Prasar Bharati from 2017 to 2022. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, he also co-founded AI4India.org, an initiative aimed at promoting inclusive access to artificial intelligence in India. Prior to joining Prasar Bharati, he spent over 15 years at Infosys in technology and product-related roles. The CBFC, operating under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, is responsible for examining and certifying films for public exhibition in India. Vempati’s appointment is expected to strengthen the board’s functioning and bring a fresh perspective to film certification policies.