Robo Shankar

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).

Infobox

Born

Shankar(1978-12-24)24 December 1978Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

Died

18 September 2025(2025-09-18) (aged 46)Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Alma mater

Madurai Kamaraj University (MA Economics)

Occupation(s)

Actor, stand-up comedian, dancer

Years active

1997–2025

Known for

Collaborations with Vijay TV

Spouse

mw- Priyanka Robo Shankar (m. 2002⁠–⁠2025)

Children

Indraja

Occupations

Actor, stand-up comedian, dancer

Tables

· Filmography

1997

Dharma Chakkaram

Role(s)

Unknown

Notes

Uncredited

1999

Padayappa

Role(s)

Dancer

Notes

Uncredited appearance in the song "En Peru Padayappa"

2003

Joot

Role(s)

Aditya's henchman

Notes

Uncredited

Uyirosai

Role(s)

Police officer

Notes

Uncredited

2004

Aai

Role(s)

Army man

Notes

Uncredited

2005

Karkaa Kasadara

Role(s)

Annachi's henchman

2006

Chennai Kadhal

Role(s)

Police Inspector

2007

Deepavali

Role(s)

Billu's friend

Madurai Veeran

Role(s)

Himself

2010

Azhukkan

2011

Rowthiram

Role(s)

Kittu's henchman

2013

Thirumathi Thamizh

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Cameo appearance

Yaaruda Mahesh

Role(s)

Gopal

Azhagan Azhagi

Role(s)

Alasunder

Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara

Role(s)

Sound Shankar

2014

Vaayai Moodi Pesavum

Role(s)

Matta Ravi

Chinnan Chiriya Vanna Paravai

Kappal

Role(s)

Seenu Anna

2015

Touring Talkies

Role(s)

Chinnaiyya

Rombha Nallavan Da Nee

Role(s)

Bhaskar's friend

Moone Moonu Varthai

Role(s)

Veera Dheera Parakrama Sivasubramani / Veerasamy

Maari

Role(s)

Sanikizhamai

Strawberry

Role(s)

Arnold

Yatchan

Maya

Role(s)

Shankar

Trisha Illana Nayanthara

Role(s)

Auto Driver

Puli

Role(s)

Albert

Maiem

Role(s)

Shankar

Muthukumar Wanted

Notes

Malaysian film; cameo appearance in a song

2016

Saagasam

Notes

Cameo appearance

Aarathu Sinam

Role(s)

ACP Sarguna Pandian

Jithan 2

Role(s)

Vela Ramamoorthy

Sutta Pazham Sudatha Pazham

Role(s)

Kidnapper

Velainu Vandhutta Vellaikaaran

Role(s)

MLA Jacket Janakiraman

Ka Ka Ka Po

Role(s)

Raghavan

Ammani

Role(s)

Yaman

Kadavul Irukaan Kumaru

Role(s)

Mayilswamy

Virumandikum Sivanandikum

Role(s)

V. Vela Ramamoorthy

Pazhaya Vannarapettai

Veera Sivaji

Role(s)

Suresh

2017

Si3

Role(s)

Subba Rao "Subbu"

Pa. Pandi

Role(s)

Actor

Notes

Cameo appearance

Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen

Role(s)

Saudaswaran

Notes

Guest appearance

Savarikkadu

Role(s)

Master's troupe member

Velaikkaran

Role(s)

Chinna Thambi

Sakka Podu Podu Raja

Role(s)

Sathya's henchman

2018

Mannar Vagaiyara

Role(s)

Attack Durai

Kalakalappu 2

Role(s)

Ganesh's foster father's brother-in-law

Irumbu Thirai

Role(s)

Kathir's uncle

Bhaskar Oru Rascal

Role(s)

Arnold

Jarugandi

Role(s)

Gajendran

Maari 2

Role(s)

Sanikazhamai

2019

Viswasam

Role(s)

Merit

Vantha Rajavathaan Varuven

Role(s)

Bucket

Nethraa

Role(s)

Actor

Mr. Local

Role(s)

Kuthala Sithambaram

Butler Balu

Role(s)

Kalyanam's assistant

Hero

Role(s)

Inbaraj "Ink"

2020

Kanni Maadam

Role(s)

—

Notes

Playback singer for the song "Moonu Kaalu Vaaganam"

Kanni Raasi

Role(s)

Manmadhan

2021

Kalathil Santhippom

Role(s)

Puli

Kutty Story

Role(s)

Prabhakar

Chakra

Role(s)

Kumar

Devadas Brothers

Role(s)

Lakshman

Cinderella

Role(s)

Guru

Plan Panni Pannanum

Role(s)

Manmadhan

2022

Yutha Satham

Role(s)

Police Constable Selvam

Iravin Nizhal

Role(s)

Paramaanandha

The Legend

Role(s)

Thirupathi

Cobra

Role(s)

Madhi / Kathir's friend

2023

Kodai

Role(s)

Paandi

Tamilarasan

Role(s)

Nambirajan

Partner

Role(s)

Samadhanam

Are You Ok Baby?

Role(s)

Sollaadhadhum Unmai participant

2024

Singapore Saloon

Role(s)

Shami / Ragavan

Boomer Uncle

Role(s)

Minor Kunju

Can

Role(s)

Unknown

Notes

Unreleased film

Jolly O Gymkhana

Role(s)

Adaikalaraj's henchman

2025

Ambi

Role(s)

Sundharam

Desingu Raja 2

Role(s)

Vijay

Sotta Sotta Nanaiyuthu

Role(s)

Kulukkal Kumaresan

Kiss Me Idiot

Notes

Posthumous release; partially reshot version

TBA

Role(s)

GodsJilla †

Notes

TBA

Year	Film	Role	Source
1997	Dharma Chakkaram	Unknown	Uncredited
1999	Padayappa	Dancer	Uncredited appearance in the song "En Peru Padayappa"
2003	Joot	Aditya's henchman	Uncredited
2003	Uyirosai	Police officer	Uncredited
2004	Aai	Army man	Uncredited
2005	Karkaa Kasadara	Annachi's henchman
2006	Chennai Kadhal	Police Inspector
2007	Deepavali	Billu's friend
2007	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 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
	Virumandikum Sivanandikum	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

· Filmography › Dubbing artist

2019

The Lion King

Role(s)

Pumbaa

Notes

Tamil dubbed version

2024

Mufasa: The Lion King

Year	Film	Role	Notes	Ref.
2019	The Lion King	Pumbaa	Tamil dubbed version
2024	Mufasa: The Lion King	Pumbaa	Tamil dubbed version

· Filmography › Television

Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Season 3

Year

2007

Program Name

Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Season 3

Role

Contestant

Channel

Star Vijay

Sun TV

Year

Asatha Povathu Yaaru?

Program Name

Sun TV

Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Season 4

Year

2008

Program Name

Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Season 4

Role

Star Vijay

Athu Ithu Ethu Season 1

Year

2009

Program Name

Athu Ithu Ethu Season 1

Role

Star Vijay

Kings of Comedy Season 1

Year

2011

Program Name

Kings of Comedy Season 1

Athu Ithu Ethu Season 2

Year

2017

Program Name

Athu Ithu Ethu Season 2

Kings of Comedy Juniors

Year

2018

Program Name

Kings of Comedy Juniors

Role

Judge

Time Enna Boss

Year

2020

Program Name

Time Enna Boss

Role

Killi

Channel

Amazon Prime

Himself

Year

Idhayathai Thirudathey

Program Name

Himself

Role

Colors Tamil

Guest

Year

Kannana Kanne

Program Name

Guest

Role

Sun TV

Channel

with Indraja Shankar

Kanni Theevu (Ullasa Ulagam 2.0)

Year

2021

Program Name

Kanni Theevu (Ullasa Ulagam 2.0)

Role

Jalsha

Channel

Colors Tamil

Sembaruthi

Year

2022

Program Name

Sembaruthi

Role

Bhuvaneshwari's husband

Channel

Zee Tamil

Judge

Year

Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Champions 3

Program Name

Judge

Role

Star Vijay

Guest

Year

Raju Vootla Party

Program Name

Guest

Vera Maari Office

Year

2023

Program Name

Vera Maari Office

Role

Channel

Aha

Notes and Ref.

Special appearance

Cooku with Comali season 5

Year

2024

Program Name

Cooku with Comali season 5

Role

Guest

Channel

Star Vijay

Top Cooku Dupe Cooku season 2

Year

2025

Program Name

Top Cooku Dupe Cooku season 2

Role

Contestant

Channel

Sun TV

Notes and Ref.

Eliminated week 4

Guest

Year

Athu Ithu Ethu season 4

Program Name

Guest

Role

Star Vijay

Channel

Final television appearance

Year	Program Name	Role	Channel	Notes and Ref.
2007	Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Season 3	Contestant	Star Vijay
2007	Asatha Povathu Yaaru?		Sun TV
2008	Kalakka Povathu Yaaru? Season 4		Star Vijay
2009	Athu Ithu Ethu Season 1		Star Vijay
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
	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	Star Vijay
2023	Vera Maari Office	BP	Aha	Special appearance
2024	Cooku with Comali season 5	Guest	Star Vijay
2025	Top Cooku Dupe Cooku season 2	Contestant	Sun TV	Eliminated week 4
2025	Athu Ithu Ethu season 4	Guest	Star Vijay	Final television appearance

References

News Today
https://newstodaynet.com/2025/09/19/actor-robo-shankar-passes-away/
mint
https://www.livemint.com/entertainment/who-was-robo-shankar-from-standup-comedy-and-robot-dance-moves-to-tamil-cinema-hits-like-maari-and-tv-stardom-11758222657474.html
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/robo-shankar-celebrates-his-birthday-today/articleshow/62507627.cms
Silverscreen.in
https://web.archive.org/web/20151020015521/http://silverscreen.in/tamil/features/robo-shankar
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Vaayai-Moodi-Pesavum/movie-review/34261920.cms
Rediff
https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-touring-talkies-disappoints-south/20150203.htm
Sify
https://web.archive.org/web/20150719222353/http://www.sify.com/movies/maari-review--phrqqGbiegbbb.html
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/i-dont-need-dialogues-to-make-people-laugh-robo-shankar/articleshow/48437724.cms?from=mdr
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/velainnu-vanthutta-vellakaran/movie-review/52582769.cms
The Hindu
https://web.archive.org/web/20201015075256/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/Velainnu-Vandhutta-Vellakaran-The-grin-reaper/article14382452.ece
Ananda Vikatan
https://cinema.vikatan.com/kollywood/indraja-shankar-interview
Deccan Chronicle
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/220220/kanni-maadam-review-a-caste-drama-cast-well-by-first-time-director.html
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/robo-shankar-turns-singer-for-bose-venkats-film/articleshow/74021917.cms
DT Next
https://www.dtnext.in/cinema/2023/03/19/robo-shankars-drastic-weight-loss-sparks-talk-about-his-health
Times Now
https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/tamil/tamil-actor-robo-shankar-dies-at-46-day-after-fainting-on-set-article-152851019
India Today
https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/robo-shankar-dies-at-46-days-after-collapsing-on-set-kamal-haasan-pays-tribute-2789661-2025-09-18
Cinema Express
https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2025/Sep/18/actor-robo-shankar-critical-after-collapsing-on-film-set
The Hindu
https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tamil-actor-comedian-robo-shankar-passes-away-at-46/article70067025.ece
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/robo-shankar-to-grace-the-upcoming-episode-of-cooku-with-comali-5/articleshow/111381034.cms
The New Indian Express
https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2024/Apr/03/vj-adams-to-mark-his-directorial-debut-with-the-upcoming-film-can
Dinakaran
https://cinema.dinakaran.com/leelas-kannadafilm-dubbedtamil/
Statesman
https://web.archive.org/web/20241120082701/https://www.thestatesman.com/entertainment/mufasa-the-lion-king-roars-with-indias-top-stars-in-hindi-tamil-telugu-versions-1503366827.html
"Kalakka Povathu Yaru | Roboshankar Evergreen Performance | Asathal TV"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvXxPFZCmuM
"Asatha Povathu Yaru | Sun Life | Stand Up Comedy by Robo Shankar and Chutti Aravind | Vision Time"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxWXqn5T-2I
The Indian Express
https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/time-enna-boss-trailer-a-fun-tamil-sitcom-about-time-travel-6596868/