Baby Shalini is a former Indian actress and child artist who worked primarily in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries. She was a famous child artist in the Malayalam film industry in the 1980s. In 1997, at the age of 17, she began acting as leading actresses in Malayalam and Tamil films. In 2000, she retired from film industry after marrying popular Tamil actor Ajith Kumar.
Wiki/Biography
Baby Shalini was born on Tuesday, November 20, 1979, in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India (age 43; as of 2023). Her zodiac sign is Scorpio.
Childhood photos of Shalini (right) and sister Shamlee (left)
Her father, originally from Quillon, immigrated to Madras (now Chennai) with his wife and children, dreaming of becoming an actor. Later, he realized this dream through his children. At the age of three and a half, Shalini entered the entertainment industry as a child artist in the Malayalam film Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku (1983). She completed her primary schooling till eighth grade at Fatima Matriculation High School, Chennai. Thereafter, she attended Adarsh Vidyalaya School in Chennai, where she studied till class 10. She continued her studies in classes 11 and 12 at a school in Church Park, Chennai. She then studied at Annamalai University. While studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), she acted in the Tamil film Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997).
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′4″
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
Body measurements (approximately): 32-28-34
Ajith Kumar and Shalini
family and race
She belongs to a Protestant Malayan Christian family.
Parents and siblings
Her father’s name is Barb and her mother’s name is Alice.
Little Shalini with her father, mother and siblings
Shalini is the second child. Her brother Richard Rishi is an actor, known for starring in the Telugu film A Film by Aravind (2005) and the Tamil films Draupathi (2020) and Rudra Thandavam (2021). Her sister Shamlee (aka Baby Shamili) is also an actress and former child artist, winning the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for her eponymous role of a mentally retarded girl in the 1990 Tamil film Anjali.
Little Shalini and her siblings
husband and children
On April 24, 2000, she married the famous Tamil actor Ajith Kumar in Chennai. Since Ajith and Shalini come from different religious backgrounds, Shalini is a Protestant Christian and Ajith is a Hindu Brahmin, they got married according to the customs of both religions. The two first met while filming the Tamil film Amarkalam (1999) and fell in love soon after. Thereafter, their parents stepped in and arranged the marriage.
Ajith Kumar and Shalini’s wedding photos
Shalini retired from acting after marriage. Later, Ajith set up his own distribution company, AK International, and Shalini started managing the company. The couple has two children, a son Aadvik (born in 2015) and a daughter Anoushka (born in 2008).
Little Shalini with her husband and children
religion
She believes in Christianity. She said of her faith in an interview:
I talk to God just like I talk to other people. I told him everything that was on my mind. I think if you have faith in God, your life will be happier. When I pray, I feel happy. ”
sign
Shalini’s autograph
Profession
As a child artist, she has done over 75 films in all South Indian languages and as an actor, she has done 13 films. In total, she has appeared in more than 90 films.
Movie
Malayalam
She made her Malayalam debut as a child artist in the family drama “Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku” (1983), in which she played the role of Mamatikuttiyama/Tintumol. The role was greatly appreciated and earned her the Best Child Artist Award at the Kerala State Film Awards.
Poster of Malayalam film Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku (1983)
Her other Malayalam films as a child artist include Sandarbham (1984), Chakkarayumma (1984), Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki (1985), Oru Nokku Kanan (1985), Muhurtham Pathnonnu Muppathinu (1985) and Ente Entethu Mathrem ( 1986).
Malayalam movie Sandarbham (1984) poster
After a brief hiatus from child acting, she made her acting debut in the film Aniyathipraavu (1997), starring Kunchacko Boban, playing the role of Mini.
Anyatipravu(1997)
Thereafter, she appeared in several Malayalam films such as Kaliyoonjal (1997), Sundarakilladi (1998) and Prem Poojari (1999). One of her popular Malayalam films was Niram (1999), in which she played the role of Sona.
Neelam(1999)
tamil
She made her Tamil debut as a child artist in 1983 with the film “Aanandha Kummi”.
Baby Shalini in Aanandha Kummi (1983)
Her other Tamil films as a child artist include Bandham (1985), Pillai Nila (1985), Shankar Guru (1987), Michael Raj (1987) and Raja Chinna Roja (1989).
Tamil movie Pillai Nila (1985) poster
She made her acting debut in 1997 with “Kadhalukku Mariyadhai”, the Tamil remake of the Malayalam “Aniyathipraavu” (1997). The film stars Vijay as Jeeva and Shalini as Mini. Like the Malayalam version, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai also created a buzz and Shalini’s performance was critically acclaimed.
Shalini played Mini in Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997)
She played the role of Mohana in the film Amarkalam (1999), alongside Ajith Kumar, who later became her husband.
Shalini played Mohana in Amarkalam (1999)
In 2000, she played the role of Hema Rajashekar in the romantic thriller Kannukkul Nilavu, sharing the stage with Vijay.
Shalini played Hema in Kannukkul Nilavu (2000)
In 2000, she starred in R. Madhavan’s Tamil debut film “Alai Payuthey”, playing the heroine Dr. Shakthi. She won the Tamil Nadu National Film Award Special Award for her role in the film.
Shalini played Dr. Shakthi in Alai Payuthey (2000)
Her last film, Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001), was released after her marriage.
Piriada Varam Vendum (2001)
The blockbuster film was Shalini’s last big screen appearance after which she retired from films and decided to confine herself to family life. When she announced her decision to retire from the film industry in an interview, she said:
I will definitely not be able to act after I get married. Now that I have given up on the entertainment industry, I don’t even have the dream of returning to it. Marriage is an important stage in a woman’s life. When I get married to Ajith Kumar as I wish, I will become the female head of the household. This decision has not changed. “
kannada
She became a Kannada actress in 1986 when she played the role of Latha in the romantic drama Ee Jeeva Ninagagi as a child artist. This is her only Kannada film so far.
I. Jiwa Ninajaji (1986)
telugu
She made her Telugu debut as a child artist in 1986 with the film Jailu Pakshi.
Jalupakshi(1986)
Her other Telugu films as a child artist include “Chinnari Devatha” (1987), “Brahma Puthrudu” (1988) and “Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari” (1990).
Poster of Telugu film Chinnari Devatha (1987)
In 1988, she starred in Brahma Puthrudu, the Telugu remake of the Tamil film Michael Raj (1987).
Hindi
She made her Bollywood debut as a child artist in the 1989 film Rakhwala, starring Anil Kapoor as Vikram Bose. The role of Mini.
Shalini played Mini in Rakhwala (1989)
television
In the late 1980s, she played the lead role in the television series Amloo aired on Doordarshan.
Awards
- Kerala Film Awards for Best Child Artist – Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku (1983)
- Tamil Nadu National Film Award for Best Actress Special Award – Alaipayuthey (2000)
Favorites
- Musician: Michael Jackson
Facts/Trivia
- She is also known as Shalini Ajith. Ajith Kumar gave Shalini a secret codename: Sona AK47.
- As her fame grew, her signature hairstyle – a short bob with front bangs – became popularly known as the “little Shalini cut.”
- After she acted in “Kadhalukku Mariyaadhai” (1997), Ajith contacted her to star in “Amarkalam” (1999). Initially, she refused to star in the film because she wanted to focus on her exams. However, after watching the preview of the film Kaadhal Mannan (1998) starring Ajith, she agreed to star in Amakaran.
- She postponed her marriage to shoot for the film Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001), the Tamil remake of the Malayalam film Niram (1999). Apparently, she had promised director Kamal that she would star in the Tamil version if the Malayalam version became a hit.
- R. Madhavan recalled in an interview that Shalini put some conditions before shooting Alai Payuthey (2000). She specifically asked Madhavan to keep a distance from her while shooting romantic scenes, citing her impending marriage to Ajith Kumar, who was also a leading actor in the industry at the time.
- In addition to being an actress, she is also an excellent badminton player and has participated in some national-level competitions. After marriage, she started playing badminton as a hobby with her husband. Later, she sought professional coaching in the sport. Her state coach is named Malan.
- Neither Ajith nor Shalini like chocolate.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education