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).
Shankar earned the name Robo Shankar after performing robot dances in village shows.[1] He was a mimicry artist and initially performed on Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? and the 'Siricha Pochu' segment of Athu Ithu Ethu.[2] 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.[3] Gokul again cast him in a role, Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara (2013), which gave him a break as an actor.[3] After doing small roles in Yaaruda Mahesh and Kappal, Balaji Mohan cast Shankar in Vaayai Moodi Pesavum (2014).[4] He portrayed a negative character in Touring Talkies (2015).[5] 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".[6][7] 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".[8][9]
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.[10] His wife Priyanka Shankar made her acting debut with Kanni Maadam (2020), for which he worked as a playback singer.[11][12] In 2023, several netizens expressed concern after he lost extra weight due to jaundice while on his weight loss journey.[13]
On 18 September 2025, Shankar collapsed on the set of the film GodsJilla in Chennai and was admitted to GEM hospital,Perungudi.[14][1] He was placed in intensive care after fluctuations in blood pressure and died later that day, at the age of 46. He had already been suffering with ethanol induced liver Cirrhosis. He had recently undergone treatment for jaundice, which resulted in significant muscle loss.[15][16][17] His body was taken to his residence in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, and the funeral is scheduled to be held there on 19 September.[15]
| Year | Film | Role | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Dharma Chakkaram | Unknown | Uncredited |
| 1999 | Padayappa | Dancer | Uncredited appearance in the song "En Peru Padayappa"[18] |
| 2003 | Joot | Aditya's henchman | Uncredited[18] |
| Uyirosai | Police officer | Uncredited | |
| 2004 | Aai | Army man | Uncredited[2] |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 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 | ||
| Virumandikum Sivanandikum | V. Vela Ramamoorthy | ||
| Pazhaya Vannarapettai | |||
| Veera Sivaji | Suresh | ||
| 2017 | Si3 | Subba Rao "Subbu" | |
| Pa Paandi | 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 | — | Playback singer for the song "Moonu Kaalu Vaaganam"[12] |
| 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 | ||
| Can | Unknown | Unreleased film[19] | |
| Jolly O Gymkhana | Adaikalaraj's henchman | ||
| 2025 | Ambi | Sundharam | |
| Desingu Raja 2 | Vijay | ||
| Sotta Sotta Nanaiyuthu | Kulukkal Kumaresan | ||
| TBA | GodsJilla † | TBA | Posthumous release |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Lion King | Pumbaa | Tamil dubbed version | |
| 2024 | Mufasa: The Lion King | [20] |
| Year | Program Name | Role | Channel | Notes and Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Season 3 | Contestant | Star Vijay | [21] |
| Asatha Povathu Yaaru? | Sun TV | [22] | ||
| 2009 | Athu Ithu Ethu Season 1 | Star Vijay | [2] | |
| 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 | [23] |
| 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 | [18] |
| 2025 | Top Cooku Dupe Cooku season 2 | Contestant | Sun TV | Eliminated week 4 |
| Athu Ithu Ethu season 4 | Guest | Star Vijay | Final television appearence |
