Robo Shankar
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Robo Shankar (24 December 1978 – 18 September 2025) 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 (2019) and Mufasa (2024).
Career
Shankar was born in Madurai on 24 December 1978.[1] He earned the name Robo Shankar after performing robot dances in village shows.[2] He was a mimicry artist and initially performed on Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? and the 'Siricha Pochu' segment of Athu Ithu Ethu.[3] He was offered by Gokul a role in Rowthiram (2011); however, many of his scenes were edited out from the film barring a song appearance.[4]
Gokul again cast him in a role, Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara (2013), which gave him a break as an actor.[4] After doing small roles in Yaaruda Mahesh and Kappal, Balaji Mohan cast Shankar in Vaayai Moodi Pesavum (2014).[5] He portrayed a negative character in Touring Talkies (2015).[6] He then acted in Maari (2015), 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".[7][8] His performance as an MLA who undergoes a coma in Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran (2016) 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".[9][10]
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.[11] His wife Priyanka Shankar is also an actor and playback singer.[12][13] In 2023, several netizens expressed concern after he lost extra weight due to jaundice while on his weight loss journey.[14]
Death
On 18 September 2025, Shankar collapsed on the set of the film GodsJilla in Chennai and was admitted to GEM hospital, Perungudi.[15][2] 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.[16][17][18] His body was taken to his residence in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, where his funeral was held.[16]
Filmography
- All films are in Tamil language unless otherwise noted.
| Year | Film | Role | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Dharma Chakkaram | Unknown | Uncredited |
| 1999 | Padayappa | Dancer | Uncredited appearance in the song "En Peru Padayappa"[19] |
| 2003 | Joot | Aditya's henchman | Uncredited[19] |
| Uyirosai | Police officer | ||
| 2004 | Aai | Army man | |
| 2005 | Karkaa Kasadara | Annachi's henchman | |
| 2006 | Chennai Kadhal | Police Inspector | |
| 2007 | Deepavali | Billu's friend | |
| Madurai Veeran | Himself | ||
| 2010 | Azhukkan | ||
| 2011 | Rowthiram | Kittu's henchman | |
| 2012 | Akilan | Boxer | |
| 2013 | Thirumathi Thamizh | Himself | Cameo appearance |
| Yaaruda Mahesh | Gopal | ||
| Azhagan Azhagi | Alasunder | ||
| Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara | Sound Shankar | ||
| 2014 | Vaayai Moodi Pesavum | Matta Ravi | |
| Chinnan Chiriya Vanna Paravai | |||
| Kappal | Seenu Anna | ||
| 2015 | Touring Talkies | Chinnaiyya | Anthology film; segment Selvi 5am Vaguppu |
| Rombha Nallavan Da Nee | Bhaskar's friend | ||
| Moone Moonu Varthai | Veera Dheera Parakrama Sivasubramani / Veerasamy | ||
| Maari | Sanikizhamai | ||
| Strawberry | Arnold | ||
| Yatchan | |||
| Maya | Shankar | ||
| Trisha Illana Nayanthara | Auto Driver | ||
| Puli | Albert | ||
| Maiem | Shankar | ||
| Muthukumar Wanted | Malaysian film; cameo appearance in a song | ||
| 2016 | Saagasam | Cameo appearance | |
| Aarathu Sinam | ACP Sarguna Pandian | ||
| Jithan 2 | Vela Ramamoorthy | ||
| Sutta Pazham Sudatha Pazham | Kidnapper | ||
| Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran | MLA Jacket Janakiraman | ||
| Ka Ka Ka Po | Raghavan | ||
| Ammani | Yaman | ||
| Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru | Mayilswamy | ||
| Virumandikkum Sivanandikkum | V. Vela Ramamoorthy | ||
| Pazhaya Vannarapettai | |||
| Veera Sivaji | Suresh | ||
| 2017 | Si3 | Subba Rao "Subbu" | |
| Pa. Pandi | Actor | Cameo appearance | |
| Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen | Saudaswaran | Guest appearance | |
| Savarikkadu | Master's troupe member | ||
| Velaikkaran | Chinna Thambi | ||
| Sakka Podu Podu Raja | Sathya's henchman | ||
| 2018 | Mannar Vagaiyara | Attack Durai | |
| Kalakalappu 2 | Ganesh's foster father's brother-in-law | ||
| Irumbu Thirai | Kathir's uncle | ||
| Bhaskar Oru Rascal | Arnold | ||
| Jarugandi | Gajendran | ||
| Maari 2 | Sanikazhamai | ||
| 2019 | Viswasam | Merit | |
| Vantha Rajavathaan Varuven | Bucket | ||
| Nethraa | Actor | ||
| Mr. Local | Kuthala Sithambaram | ||
| Butler Balu | Kalyanam's assistant | ||
| Hero | Inbaraj "Ink" | ||
| 2020 | Kanni Maadam | Template:Screen reader-only | Playback singer for the song "Moonu Kaalu Vaaganam"[13] |
| Kanni Raasi | Manmadhan | ||
| 2021 | Kalathil Santhippom | Puli | |
| Kutty Story | Prabhakar | ||
| Chakra | Kumar | ||
| Devadas Brothers | Lakshman | ||
| Cinderella | Guru | ||
| Plan Panni Pannanum | Manmadhan | ||
| 2022 | Yutha Satham | Police Constable Selvam | |
| Iravin Nizhal | Paramaanandha | ||
| The Legend | Thirupathi | ||
| Cobra | Madhi / Kathir's friend | ||
| 2023 | Kodai | Paandi | |
| Tamilarasan | Nambirajan | ||
| Partner | Samadhanam | ||
| Are You Ok Baby? | Sollaadhadhum Unmai participant | ||
| 2024 | Singapore Saloon | Shami / Ragavan | |
| Boomer Uncle | Minor Kunju | ||
| Jolly O Gymkhana | Adaikalaraj's henchman | ||
| 2025 | Ambi | Sundharam | |
| Desingu Raja 2 | Vijay | ||
| Sotta Sotta Nanaiyuthu | Kulukkal Kumaresan | ||
| Kiss Me Idiot | Ticket Thanikachalam | Posthumous release; partially reshot version[20] | |
| Saaraa | Security Raju | Posthumous release | |
| 2026 | Commandovin Love Story | S. Ranjith | Posthumous release[21] |
| Template:TBA | Template:Pending film | Template:TBA | Posthumous release |
Dubbing artist
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Template:Refh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Lion King | Pumbaa | Tamil dubbed version | |
| 2024 | Mufasa: The Lion King | [22] |
Television
| Year | Program Name | Role | Channel | Notes and Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Season 3 | Contestant | Star Vijay | [23] |
| Asatha Povathu Yaaru? | Sun TV | [24] | ||
| 2008 | Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Season 4 | Star Vijay | ||
| 2009 | Athu Ithu Ethu Season 1 | Star Vijay | [3] | |
| 2011 | Kings of Comedy Season 1 | |||
| 2017 | Athu Ithu Ethu Season 2 | |||
| 2018 | Kings of Comedy Juniors | Judge | ||
| 2020 | Time Enna Boss | Killi | Amazon Prime | [25] |
| Idhayathai Thirudathey | Himself | Colors Tamil | ||
| Kannana Kanne | Guest | Sun TV | with Indraja Shankar | |
| 2021 | Kanni Theevu (Ullasa Ulagam 2.0) | Jalsha | Colors Tamil | |
| 2022 | Sembaruthi | Bhuvaneshwari's husband | Zee Tamil | |
| Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Champions 3 | Judge | Star Vijay | ||
| Raju Vootla Party | Guest | |||
| 2023 | Vera Maari Office | BP | Aha | Special appearance |
| 2024 | Cooku with Comali season 5 | Guest | Star Vijay | [19] |
| 2025 | Top Cooku Dupe Cooku season 2 | Contestant | Sun TV | Eliminated week 4 |
| Athu Ithu Ethu season 4 | Guest | Star Vijay | Final television appearance |
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Actor Robo Shankar Passes Away". News Today. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Who was Robo Shankar? From robot dance sensation to Tamil cinema hits like Maari and TV stardom". mint. 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Robo Shankar celebrates his birthday today". The Times of India. 15 January 2018.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."My Stomach Kept Growing With My Career: Robo Shankar Interview". Silverscreen.in. 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Vaayai Moodi Pesavum Movie Review". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Saraswathi, S. "Review: Touring Talkies disappoints". Rediff.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Review : Maari". Sify. Archived from the original on 19 July 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."I don't need dialogues to make people laugh: Robo Shankar". The Times of India. 12 August 2015. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Suganth, M (4 June 2016). "Velainnu Vanthutta Vellakaran Movie Review". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 December 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Rangan, Baradwaj (3 June 2016). "Velainnu Vandhutta Vellakaran: The grin reaper". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.ராஜன், அய்யனார் (29 September 2021). "கால்வலி மட்டுமே எலிமினேஷனுக்கு காரணமில்லை!". Ananda Vikatan (in தமிழ்).
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Subramanian, Anupama (22 February 2020). "Kanni Maadam review: A caste drama cast well by first-time director". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Robo Shankar turns singer for Bose Venkat's film". The Times of India. 8 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Robo Shankar's drastic weight loss sparks talk about his health". DT Next. 19 March 2023.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Tamil Actor Robo Shankar Dies At 46, Day After Fainting On Set". Times Now. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Actor Robo Shankar, 46, dies day after on-set collapse. Kamal Haasan pays tribute". India Today. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Actor Robo Shankar critical after collapsing on film set". Cinema Express. 1 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Tamil actor-comedian Robo Shankar passes away at 46". The Hindu. 18 September 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Robo Shankar to grace the upcoming episode of Cooku With Comali 5". The Times of India. 30 June 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."தமிழில் டப்பிங் ஆகிறது ஸ்ரீலீலாவின் கன்னட படம்" [Sreeeela's Kannada film is being dubbed in Tamil]. Dinakaran (in தமிழ்). 15 September 2025. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Commando Vin Love Story Movie". The Times of India. 24 April 2026. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Mufasa The Lion King roars with India's top stars in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu versions". Statesman. 20 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Kalakka Povathu Yaru | Roboshankar Evergreen Performance | Asathal TV". 3 May 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Asatha Povathu Yaru | Sun Life | Stand Up Comedy by Robo Shankar and Chutti Aravind | Vision Time". 9 November 2018 – via YouTube.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Time Enna Boss trailer: A fun Tamil series about time travel". The Indian Express. 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
External links
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