Baby Shalini is a former Indian child actress and artist, who mostly worked in the Malayalam and Tamil film industry. He was a prominent child artist in the Malayalam film industry in the 80s. In 1997, when she was 17 years old, she started starring in Malayalam and Tamil films as the lead heroine. She retired from films after she married popular Tamil actor Ajith Kumar in 2000.
Wiki/Biography
Baby Shalini was born on Tuesday, 20 November 1979 (age 43 years; in 2023) in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India. His zodiac sign is Scorpio.
Childhood photo of Shalini (right) with her younger sister Shamlee (left)
His father, originally from Kollam, migrated to Madras (now Chennai) with his wife and children dreaming of becoming an actor. Later, he fulfilled that dream through his children. Shalini was three and a half years old when she entered the entertainment industry as a child artiste in the Malayalam film Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku (1983). He did his primary schooling, up to class 8, at Fatima Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Chennai. After that, he attended Adarsh Vidyalaya, Chennai, where he studied up to Class 10. He attended Class 11 and 12 at a school in Church Park, Chennai. Later, he enrolled in Annamalai University. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) while acting in the Tamil film Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997).
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 4″
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Figure Measurements (approx): 32-28-34
Ajith Kumar and Shalini
Family & Ethnicity
He belongs to a Protestant Malayali Christian family.
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Babu, and his mother’s name is Alice.
Baby Shalini with her father, mother and siblings
Shalini is the middle 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 younger sister, Shamlee (also known as Baby Shamili), is also an actress and former child artist who won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for playing the titular role of a mentally challenged girl in the 1990 Tamil film Anjali.
Baby Shalini with her siblings
Husband & Son
On 24 April 2000, she married popular Tamil actor Ajith Kumar in Chennai. Since Ajith and Shalini are from different religious backgrounds, Shalini a Protestant Christian and Ajith a Hindu Brahmin, they got married according to both religious customs. The two first met during the filming of the Tamil film Amarkalam (1999), and soon fell in love. After that, their parents intervened and arranged the marriage.
Ajith Kumar and Shalini wedding pictures
Shalini stopped acting after marriage. Later, Ajith set up his own distribution company AK International and Shalini started looking after him. The couple has two children, a son, Aadvik (born in 2015), and a daughter, Anoushka (born in 2008).
Baby Shalini with her husband and children
religion
He follows Christianity. While talking about his faith in an interview, he said,
I speak to God as I do to others. I told Him everything I had on my mind. I think you can be happier in life if you believe in God. I feel happy when I pray.”
Autograph
Shalini’s autograph
Career
As a child artist, he made more than 75 films in all South Indian languages, and, as an actor, he made 13 films. In total, he has appeared in more than 90 films.
Movie
Malayalam
He made his Malayalam debut as a child artist with the family drama film Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku (1983) in which he played the role of Mamattikuttiyama / Tintumol. Much appreciated, the role earned him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist.
Malayalam movie poster Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku (1983)
Other Malayalam films in which he appeared 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 poster Sandarbham (1984)
After a short break from child acting, she made her acting debut with the film Aniyathipraavu (1997), starring Kunchacko Boban, in which she played the role of Mini.
Aniyathipraavu (1997)
After that, she appeared in various Malayalam films such as Kaliyoonjal (1997), Sundarakilladi (1998), and Prem Poojari (1999). One of the popular Malayalam films was Niram (1999) in which she played the role of Sona.
Niram (1999)
Tamil language
In 1983, he made his Tamil debut as a child artist with the film Aanandha Kummi.
Baby Shalini in Aanandha Kummi (1983)
Other Tamil films in which he appeared as a child artist include Bandham (1985), Pillai Nila (1985), Shankar Guru (1987), Michael Raj (1987), and Raja Chinna Roja (1989).
Tamil movie poster Pillai Nila (1985)
In 1997, he made his acting debut with Kadhalukku Mariyadhai, a Tamil Malayalam remake of Aniyathipraavu (1997). The film stars Vijay (as Jeeva) and Shalini (as Mini) in the lead roles. Like the Malayalam version, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai was also a blockbuster and Shalini’s performance received immense praise.
Shalini as Mini in Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997)
She appeared in the film Amarkalam (1999) as Mohana, alongside Ajith Kumar, who later became her husband.
Shalini as Mohana in Amarkalam (1999)
In 2000, she played Hema Rajashekar in the romantic thriller Kannukkul Nilavu, sharing the screen with Vijay.
Shalini as Hema in Kannukkul Nilavu (2000)
In 2000, she appeared in the romantic drama film Alai Payuthey, the Tamil debut of R. Madhavan, in which she played the female lead, Dr Shakthi. He won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for his role in the film.
Shalini as Dr Shakthi in Alai Payuthey (2000)
Her last film Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001) was released after her marriage.
Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001)
The blockbuster hit was Shalini’s last appearance on the big screen after which she quit films and decided to confine herself to family life. While announcing his decision to quit films in an interview, he said,
For sure, I will not act after marriage. I who have given up on acting will never dream of going back to acting. Marriage is an important stage in a woman’s life. When I will marry Ajithkumar according to my heart’s desire, I will be the female head of the family. There is no change in this decision. “
Kannada
In 1986, she made her Kannada debut as a child artiste with the romantic drama film Ee Jeeva Ninagagi in which she played the role of Latha. This is his only Kannada film so far.
Ee Jeeva Ninagagi (1986)
Telugu
In 1986, he made his Telugu debut as a child artist with the film Jailu Pakshi.
Jailu Pakshi (1986)
Other Telugu films in which he appeared as a child artist include Chinnari Devatha (1987), Brahma Puthrudu (1988), and Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari (1990).
Chinnari Devatha (1987) Telugu movie poster
In 1988, he starred in Brahma Puthrudu, the Telugu remake of Michael Raj’s Tamil film (1987).
Hindi
In 1989, she made her Bollywood debut as a child artist in the film Rakhwala, starring Anil Kapoor as Vikram Bose, in which she played the role of Mini.
Shalini as Mini in Rakhwala (1989)
Television
In the late 1980s, he played the lead role in the TV serial Amloo which aired on Doordarshan.
Award
- Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist – Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku (1983)
- Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actress – Alaipayuthey (2000)
Favourite
- Musician: Michael Jackson
Facts/Trivia
- She is also referred to as Shalini Ajith. Ajith Kumar has given Shalini a secret code name, Sona AK47.
- When she rose to fame, her iconic hairstyle, a short bob with a front fringe, was popularly known as the “Baby Shalini haircut.”
- She was taking a break after starring in Kadhalukku Mariyaadhai (1997) when Ajith approached her to act in Amarkalam (1999). Initially, she refused to act in the film as she wanted to focus on her exams. However, she agreed to act in Amarkalam after watching the preview of Kaadhal Mannan (1998), starring Ajith.
- She postponed her marriage to shoot for the film Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001), a Tamil remake of the Malayalam film Niram (1999). Apparently, he has promised director Kamal that he will star in the Tamil version if Malayalam becomes a blockbuster.
- In an interview, R. Madhavan recalled that Shalini had put some conditions before shooting the film Alai Payuthey (2000). She specifically asked Madhavan to stay away from her while shooting romantic scenes, citing that she would be roped in with Ajith Kumar, who was also a leading actor in the industry at the time.
- Apart from being an actor, he is a skilled badminton player and has played in several state level tournaments. She started playing badminton as a hobby with her husband after marriage. Later, he followed professional training in the sport. His state level coach’s name is Maran.
- Both Ajith and Shalini do not like eating chocolate.
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
