Shankar (actor)

Shankar Panicker, better known as Shankar, is an Indian film and television actor, film director and producer, known for his work in Malayalam and Tamil films. He has acted in nearly 200 films in lead and supporting roles in Malayalam and Tamil cinema in the 1980s and early 90s. Shankar’s Tamil debut Oru Thalai Ragam and Malayalam debut Manjil Virinja Pookkal enjoyed theatrical runs of 365 and 250 days respectively, catapulting him to overnight stardom. The immense success of these films established him as a bankable lead and earned him a huge fan base among audiences in the 1980s. Celebrated for his handsome, chocolate-boy looks, he became a youth sensation in the 1980s, which helped him quickly rise to the status of a superstar. From the late 1990s onward, he has also worked as a director and producer while continuing his acting career.

Shankar produced the film Ezhuthola (2024), which won four awards at London Independent Film Award, Sundarban International Film Festival, and Tagore International Film Festival. Beyond his acting career, Shankar is involved in business and social welfare activities. He is widely considered as the one of the romantic heroes in Malayalam cinema history.