# Aditi Shankar
**Aditi Shankar** (அதிதி ஷங்கர்; born 1993) is an Indian actress and singer who works primarily in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema), and the daughter of the director Shankar Shanmugham. She made her lead debut with *Viruman* (2022) opposite Karthi and is known for *Maaveeran* (2023), *[Nesippaya](https://www.edgepedia.org/nesippaya)* (2025), the Telugu film *[Bhairavam](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhairavam)* (2025), and *Once More* (2026).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12910360/) • [2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/aditi-shankar.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12910360/) |
| Family | Daughter of director Shankar Shanmugham and Easwari Shankar; sister Aishwarya Shankar, brother Arjith Shankar[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12910360/) • [2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/aditi-shankar.html) |
| Education | Medical graduate of Shri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/aditi-shankar.html) |
| Acting debut | *Viruman* (2022), opposite Karthi, directed by Muthaiya[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/aditi-shankar.html) |
| Telugu debut | *Bhairavam*, released 30 May 2025, directed by Vijay Kanakamedala[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/aditi-shankar.html) |
| Singing | Sang "Madura Veeran Azhagula" in *Viruman* and "Vannarapettaiyila" with Sivakarthikeyan in *Maaveeran*[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/heroines/aditi-shankar-explains-why-she-does-fewer-films-i-choose-my-movies-carefully-182929.html) |
| Film count | Five films in her first four years; she has said she chooses films deliberately rather than working continuously[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/heroines/aditi-shankar-explains-why-she-does-fewer-films-i-choose-my-movies-carefully-182929.html) |
## Background and entry into film
Aditi Shankar studied medicine and completed her degree at Shri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai before entering films.[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/aditi-shankar.html) In a 2022 interview with *The Times of India*, she said she had always wanted to act, dance, and sing but did not raise it with her parents while studying; after finishing her medical studies she asked them, and they agreed.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ill-pursue-both-singing-and-acting-equally-says-aditi-shankar/articleshow/93437537.cms) She said she intends to pursue singing and acting equally.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ill-pursue-both-singing-and-acting-equally-says-aditi-shankar/articleshow/93437537.cms)
Her father is Shankar Shanmugham, the director of large-scale Tamil films such as *Anniyan* and *Sivaji*; her mother is Easwari Shankar.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12910360/) • [4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ill-pursue-both-singing-and-acting-equally-says-aditi-shankar/articleshow/93437537.cms) When asked how much her father's name had helped her career, she replied that everyone knows Shankar's daughter has entered the industry.[5](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2025/epaper/may/vijayawada-english-edition-2025-05-13.pdf)
## Career
**Debut: Viruman (2022).** Shankar debuted as the female lead opposite Karthi in *Viruman*, directed by Muthaiya.[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/aditi-shankar.html) She said she auditioned for the role rather than being cast through her father, and that the team was looking for a character role rather than a glamorous one.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ill-pursue-both-singing-and-acting-equally-says-aditi-shankar/articleshow/93437537.cms) She also sang the film's "Madura Veeran Azhagula" for composer [Yuvan Shankar Raja](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuvan-shankar-raja).[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ill-pursue-both-singing-and-acting-equally-says-aditi-shankar/articleshow/93437537.cms)
**Maaveeran (2023).** Her second film cast her opposite [Sivakarthikeyan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sivakarthikeyan) in Madonne Ashwin's fantasy film *Maaveeran*, released on 14 July 2023.[6](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/shankar-shanmugham-is-all-praise-for-daughter-aditis-performance-in-maaveeran-2407034-2023-07-15) She sang "Vannarapettaiyila" with Sivakarthikeyan in the film.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/heroines/aditi-shankar-explains-why-she-does-fewer-films-i-choose-my-movies-carefully-182929.html) Her father publicly praised her performance after release.[6](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/shankar-shanmugham-is-all-praise-for-daughter-aditis-performance-in-maaveeran-2407034-2023-07-15)
**2025: Nesippaya and Bhairavam.** She appeared in Vishnu Vardhan's Tamil film *Nesippaya* (released 14 January 2025) and made her Telugu debut with *Bhairavam*, directed by Vijay Kanakamedala and released on 30 May 2025.[2](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/aditi-shankar.html) Both films underperformed, according to a Filmibeat report.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/heroines/aditi-shankar-explains-why-she-does-fewer-films-i-choose-my-movies-carefully-182929.html)
**Once More (2026).** Shankar starred opposite [Arjun Das](https://www.edgepedia.org/arjun-das) in *Once More*, the debut film of director Vignesh Srikanth, with Sona Olickal in a debut role; it reached theaters on 28 August 2026.[7](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/once-more-review-in-tamil-arjun-das-aditi-shankar-efforts-sinks-in-a-weak-screenplay-183373.html) She played Anjali, a junior from the hero's college days who pursues him after he has withdrawn following a failed first relationship.[7](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/once-more-review-in-tamil-arjun-das-aditi-shankar-efforts-sinks-in-a-weak-screenplay-183373.html) The film had been shot in 2024 and released two years later.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/heroines/aditi-shankar-explains-why-she-does-fewer-films-i-choose-my-movies-carefully-182929.html)
## Reception
Reviews of *Once More* were mixed, with several outlets rating it 2.5 out of 5.[7](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/once-more-review-in-tamil-arjun-das-aditi-shankar-efforts-sinks-in-a-weak-screenplay-183373.html) • [8](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/reviews/story/once-more-review-arjun-das-aditi-shankar-vignesh-srikanth-romantic-drama-2981823-2026-08-28) India Today's review called it an uneven romance that works in parts, while crediting the lead performances, [Hesham Abdul Wahab](https://www.edgepedia.org/hesham-abdul-wahab)'s music, and Aravind Viswanathan's cinematography as the film's main strengths.[8](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/reviews/story/once-more-review-arjun-das-aditi-shankar-vignesh-srikanth-romantic-drama-2981823-2026-08-28) The Tamil Filmibeat review found the screenplay weak but noted that Shankar's mischievous characterization carried much of the first half.[7](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/once-more-review-in-tamil-arjun-das-aditi-shankar-efforts-sinks-in-a-weak-screenplay-183373.html) The critic [Prashanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/prashanth), reviewing on his YouTube channel, described her work in the film as a career-best performance.[9](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/once-more-prashanth-review-aditi-shankar-delivers-her-career-best-performance-says-popular-critic-183439.html)
**Pace of work.** In an August 2026 interview, Shankar addressed why she has made only five films in four years, saying she chooses films deliberately, asking why she is doing a project before committing, and that she had worked on two films in a single year only once; she added that two more films were lined up.[3](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/heroines/aditi-shankar-explains-why-she-does-fewer-films-i-choose-my-movies-carefully-182929.html)
## References
1. [Aditi Shankar, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm12910360/)
2. [Aditi Shankar: Height, Age, Biography, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/aditi-shankar.html)
3. [Aditi Shankar Explains Why She Does Fewer Films, Tamil Filmibeat](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/heroines/aditi-shankar-explains-why-she-does-fewer-films-i-choose-my-movies-carefully-182929.html)
4. [I'll pursue both singing and acting equally, says Aditi Shankar, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ill-pursue-both-singing-and-acting-equally-says-aditi-shankar/articleshow/93437537.cms)
5. [The Pioneer, Vijayawada edition, 13 May 2025](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2025/epaper/may/vijayawada-english-edition-2025-05-13.pdf)
6. [Shankar Shanmugham is all praise for daughter Aditi's performance in Maaveeran, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/shankar-shanmugham-is-all-praise-for-daughter-aditis-performance-in-maaveeran-2407034-2023-07-15)
7. [Once More Review in Tamil, Tamil Filmibeat](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/once-more-review-in-tamil-arjun-das-aditi-shankar-efforts-sinks-in-a-weak-screenplay-183373.html)
8. [Once More review: Arjun Das and Aditi Shankar charm in an uneven romance, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/reviews/story/once-more-review-arjun-das-aditi-shankar-vignesh-srikanth-romantic-drama-2981823-2026-08-28)
9. [Once More Prashanth's Review, Tamil Filmibeat](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/reviews/once-more-prashanth-review-aditi-shankar-delivers-her-career-best-performance-says-popular-critic-183439.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames R to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license