Robo Shankar


Robo Shankar was an Indian stand-up comedian and actor who appeared predominantly in Tamil films and television. Making his breakthrough with Star Vijay's Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? by performing stand-up comedy, he was cast regularly in several shows on Star Vijay and has presented television shows for the channel. He was also the voice-over for Pumbaa in the official Tamil dub of The Lion King and Mufasa.
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Career

Shankar was born in Madurai on 24 December 1978. He earned the name Robo Shankar after performing robot dances in village shows. He was a mimicry artist and initially performed on Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? and the 'Siricha Pochu' segment of Athu Ithu Ethu. He was offered by Gokul a role in Rowthiram ; however, many of his scenes were edited out from the film barring a song appearance.
Gokul again cast him in a role, Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara, which gave him a break as an actor. After doing small roles in Yaaruda Mahesh and Kappal, Balaji Mohan cast Shankar in Vaayai Moodi Pesavum. He portrayed a negative character in Touring Talkies. He then acted in Maari, where his performance was mentioned by critics that he "deserves a special mention" and "steals the show with his unique one-liners and body language". His performance as an MLA who undergoes a coma in Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran was well received with critics describing his performance as "a scream" and "the most show-stopping, laugh-till-you-cry — and yes, BP-reducing — comedy stretch of the year".

Personal life

Shankar's daughter Indraja Shankar made her acting debut in Bigil, as one of the women football players and also a castaway in Zee Tamil's Survivor show. His wife Priyanka Shankar is also an actor and playback singer. In 2023, several netizens expressed concern after he lost extra weight due to jaundice while on his weight loss journey.

Death

On 18 September 2025, Shankar collapsed on the set of the film GodsJilla in Chennai and was admitted to GEM hospital, Perungudi. He was placed in intensive care after fluctuations in blood pressure and died later that day, at the age of 46. He died due to massive gastrointestinal bleed and multi-organ dysfunction. His body was taken to his residence in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, where his funeral was held.

Filmography

  • All films are in Tamil language unless otherwise noted.
YearFilmRoleSource
1997Dharma ChakkaramUnknownUncredited
1999PadayappaDancerUncredited appearance in the song "En Peru Padayappa"
2003JootAditya's henchmanUncredited
2003UyirosaiPolice officerUncredited
2004AaiArmy manUncredited
2005Karkaa KasadaraAnnachi's henchman
2006Chennai KadhalPolice Inspector
2007DeepavaliBillu's friend
2007Madurai VeeranHimself
2010Azhukkan
2011RowthiramKittu's henchman
2013Thirumathi ThamizhHimselfCameo appearance
2013Yaaruda MaheshGopal
2013Azhagan AzhagiAlasunder
2013Idharkuthane Aasaipattai BalakumaraSound Shankar
2014Vaayai Moodi PesavumMatta Ravi
2014Chinnan Chiriya Vanna Paravai
2014KappalSeenu Anna
2015Touring TalkiesChinnaiyya
2015Rombha Nallavan Da NeeBhaskar's friend
2015Moone Moonu VarthaiVeera Dheera Parakrama Sivasubramani / Veerasamy
2015MaariSanikizhamai
2015StrawberryArnold
2015Yatchan
2015MayaShankar
2015Trisha Illana NayantharaAuto Driver
2015PuliAlbert
2015MaiemShankar
2015Muthukumar WantedMalaysian film; cameo appearance in a song
2016SaagasamCameo appearance
2016Aarathu SinamACP Sarguna Pandian
2016Jithan 2Vela Ramamoorthy
2016Sutta Pazham Sudatha PazhamKidnapper
2016Velainu Vandhutta VellaikaaranMLA Jacket Janakiraman
2016Ka Ka Ka PoRaghavan
2016AmmaniYaman
2016Kadavul Irukaan KumaruMayilswamy
2016Virumandikum SivanandikumV. Vela Ramamoorthy
2016Pazhaya Vannarapettai
2016Veera SivajiSuresh
2017Si3Subba Rao "Subbu"
2017Pa. PandiActorCameo appearance
2017Saravanan Irukka BayamaenSaudaswaranGuest appearance
2017SavarikkaduMaster's troupe member
2017VelaikkaranChinna Thambi
2017Sakka Podu Podu RajaSathya's henchman
2018Mannar VagaiyaraAttack Durai
2018Kalakalappu 2Ganesh's foster father's brother-in-law
2018Irumbu Thirai Kathir's uncle
2018Bhaskar Oru Rascal Arnold
2018JarugandiGajendran
2018Maari 2Sanikazhamai
2019Viswasam Merit
2019Vantha Rajavathaan VaruvenBucket
2019NethraaActor
2019Mr. LocalKuthala Sithambaram
2019Butler BaluKalyanam's assistant
2019HeroInbaraj "Ink"
2020Kanni MaadamPlayback singer for the song "Moonu Kaalu Vaaganam"
2020Kanni RaasiManmadhan
2021Kalathil Santhippom Puli
2021Kutty Story Prabhakar
2021Chakra Kumar
2021Devadas BrothersLakshman
2021Cinderella Guru
2021Plan Panni PannanumManmadhan
2022Yutha Satham Police Constable Selvam
2022Iravin NizhalParamaanandha
2022The LegendThirupathi
2022CobraMadhi / Kathir's friend
2023KodaiPaandi
2023TamilarasanNambirajan
2023PartnerSamadhanam
2023Are You Ok Baby?Sollaadhadhum Unmai participant
2024Singapore SaloonShami / Ragavan
2024Boomer UncleMinor Kunju
2024CanUnknownUnreleased film
2024Jolly O GymkhanaAdaikalaraj's henchman
2025AmbiSundharam
2025Desingu Raja 2Vijay
2025Sotta Sotta NanaiyuthuKulukkal Kumaresan
2025Kiss Me IdiotTicket ThanigachalamPosthumous release; partially reshot version
2025SaaraaSecurity Raju
Posthumous release