Censor scissors go to Mrs Shotgun,Tina Ambani, 20 others

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad’s love for Bollywood will soon reflect in the Censor Board for Film Certifica...

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad’s love for Bollywood will soon reflect in the Censor Board for Film Certification which is being reconstituted.

Prasad put his stamp of approval on yesteryear star Tina Ambani, Poonam Sinha, wife of star-turned-Minister Shatrughan Sinha, Chennai producer L Suresh and 19 others who will soon be administered an oath of allegiance by board chairperson Anupam Kher.

Ministry sources said that names of journalist Mrinal Pandey and part-time Prasar Bharati Board member Lt Gen (retd) M A Zaki had also been cleared.

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Kher had earlier said he wanted students and young professionals on the board. The Ministry granted him his wish but also stacked the board with women. Its rationale: women are more credible.

It’s the Minister who has a final say in the selection of members to the Board. Prasad’s earlier Bollywood choices were Raveena Tandon for the post of chairperson Children’s Film Society of India, producer/director Manmohan Shetty for National Film Development Council and, of course, Kher. On a tour abroad, Kher was unavailable for comment.