Shalini Ajith Kumar (formerly known as Baby Shalini; born 20 November 1979), known mononymously as Shalini is a former Indian actress and child artist who predominantly worked in Malayalam and Tamil films. During the 80s, Shalini was the most successful child artist in both Malayalam and Tamil film industry and also in Telugu films.[2] After a brief hiatus from acting, Shalini made a come back in 1997 through Malayalam and Tamil language films as a lead heroine. She married popular Tamil actor Ajith Kumar, on 24 April 2000 and did one more film after her wedding before officially retiring from films.[3]
Shalini Ajith Kumar | |
|---|---|
 Shalini in 2023 | |
| Born | Shalini Babu[1] 20 November 1979 Thiruvalla, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1983–2001 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Shamlee (sister) Richard Rishi (brother) |
Early life
editShalini was born in a Protestant Malayali Christian family to Babu and Alice on 20 November 1979.[4][5][6][7] Her father is from Kollam.[8] Her father migrated to Madras with an ambition of becoming an actor and the family settled there. Later, he fulfilled his ambition through his children.[9] Shalini attended Fatima Matriculation Higher Secondary School (K.G to 8th), Adarsh Vidyalaya, Chennai (9th to 10th) and Church Park, Chennai (11th and 12th). She completed college at Annamalai University.[2] She is the middle child. Her younger sister Shamili and her elder brother Richard are also actors in the film industry. Shalini has stated that she enjoys badminton and has played in a few state-level tournaments.[10][11]
Career
editShalini started her career as a child artist in Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku under the direction of Fazil.[12] She also played the lead character in the TV serial Amloo telecast in the late 1980s on Doordarshan.[13][non-primary source needed] Her iconic hairstyle, a short bob with a front fringe, was popularly known as the “Baby Shalini hair cut”.[14]
Three of the siblings Shalini, Shamili and Richard Rishi were acted as child artists in 1990 Telugu language blockbuster film Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari.
Shalini soon went to study, and she returned to acting with Aniyathipravu, which was a blockbuster. In her next film Kaliyoonjal (1997), she co-starred with Mammootty and Dileep and it released to mixed reviews. After the success of the Malayalam Aniyathipravu, Fazil remade it in Tamil as Kadhalukku Mariyadhai (1997). Initially, Fazil was keen on casting a débutante in the lead female role, but Shalini insisted that she should also star in the Tamil version.[15] Like the Malayalam version, Kadhalukku Mariyadhai was also a blockbuster, and Shalini’s performance was also praised with Indolink.com recommending the film and citing that "Shalini returns in this film with a good performance".[16]
For the movie Amarkalam (1999), Saran initially approached Shalini, who was studying at the time and she refused, however, after a three-month pursuit, he finally got her to sign on as well.[17] She was offered a role in Padayappa,[18] which she rejected. The success of the film Kadhalukku Mariyadhai prompted Fazil to make another film with the lead pair, Vijay and Shalini, in 2000: Kannukkul Nilavu.[19]
Personal life
editIn 1999, during the shoot of Saran's Amarkalam, Shalini began to date her co-star Ajith Kumar. He proposed to Shalini.[20] They got married on 24 April 2000 at Chennai. After their marriage, Shalini retired as an actress following the completion of two unfinished projects. The couple have two children.[21][22]
Filmography
editAs a child artist
edit| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku | Mamattukuttiyama/Tintu | Malayalam | Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist |
| Aadyathe Anuraagam | Rajumon | |||
| Bezawada Bebbuli | Telugu | Telugu Movie Debut | ||
| Oomakkuyil | Malayalam | |||
| Aanandha Kummi | Tamil | Tamil Movie Debut | ||
| 1984 | Muthodu Muthu | Achimol | Malayalam | |
| Amme Narayana | ||||
| Onnum Mindatha Bharya | Achuthan Nair's daughter | |||
| Sandarbham | Ravi's daughter | |||
| NH 47 | Mini | |||
| Onnanu Nammal | Sonykutty | |||
| Krishna Guruvayoorappa | Unnikrishnan | |||
| Oru Sumangaliyude Katha | Raji | |||
| Minimol Vathicanil | Minimol | |||
| Chakkarayumma | Shalu Mol | |||
| Koottinilamkili | Nandini/Rajimol | Dual Role | ||
| Mangalam Nerunnu | Usha | |||
| Osai | Baby Shalini | Tamil | ||
| 1985 | Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki | Shalu | Malayalam | |
| Bandham | Asha | Tamil | ||
| Pillai Nila | Shalini / Shalu | Dual Role | ||
| Amudha Gaanam | Meena | |||
| Jeevante Jeevan | Biju | Malayalam
& Telugu | ||
| Akkacheyude Kunjuvava | Chakkimol | |||
| Oru Nokku Kanan | Chinnukkutty/Unnimol | Dual Role | ||
| Kongumudi[23] | Padma | |||
| Katha Ithuvare | Ramyamol | |||
| Oru Kudakeezhil | Baby Sridevi | |||
| Aazhi | ||||
| Aanakkorumma | Bindu | |||
| Iniyum Kadha Thudarum | Ravindran's daughter | |||
| Ormikkaan Omanikkaan | ||||
| Muhurtham Pathnonnu Muppathinu | Raji or Rajee | |||
| 1986 | Prathyyekom Shradikkuka | Minimol | ||
| Bharya Oru Manthri | Anithamol | |||
| Viduthalai | Shalini | Tamil | ||
| Ente Entethu Mathrem | Sreemol, Bindu | Malayalam | Dual role | |
| Ee Jeeva Ninagagi | Latha | Kannada | Also playback singer and only Kannada film till date | |
| Nilave Malare | Priya | Tamil | ||
| Aayiram Kannudayaal | ||||
| Jailu Pakshi | Telugu | |||
| 1987 | Amme Bhagavathi | Durga | Malayalam | |
| Sirai Paravai | Tamil | |||
| Shankar Guru | Devi | |||
| Chinnari Devatha | Devi | Telugu | ||
| Saradhamba | ||||
| Michael Raj | Tamil | |||
| Rowdy Babai | ||||
| 1988 | Brahma Puthrudu | Sridevi | Telugu | |
| Chutti Poonai | Shalini | Tamil | ||
| August 15 Rathri | Telugu | |||
| 1989 | Raja Chinna Roja | Chitra | Tamil | |
| Rakhwala | Mini | Hindi | Only Bollywood film till date | |
| Varusham 16 | Tamil | |||
| Bhagavan | Baby | Telugu | ||
| 1990 | Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari | Pandu | ||
| 1991 | Keechu Raallu |
As a leading actress
edit| Year | Film | Role | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Aniyathipraavu | Mini | Malayalam | |
| Kaliyoonjal | Ammu | |||
| Kadhalukku Mariyadhai | Mini | Tamil | Remake of Aniyathipraavu | |
| 1998 | Nakshatratharattu | Hema | Malayalam | |
| Kaikudunna Nilavu | Veni | |||
| Sundarakilladi | Devayani | |||
| 1999 | Prem Poojari | Hema | ||
| Amarkalam | Mohana | Tamil | Also playback singer | |
| Niram | Sona | Malayalam | ||
| 2000 | Kannukkul Nilavu | Hema | Tamil | |
| Alai Payuthey | Shakti | Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actress Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil | ||
| 2001 | Piriyadha Varam Vendum | Nithi | Remake of Niram |
Awards
editReferences
edit- ^ "Actors Ajith & Shalini Skip Queue At Polling Booth As Fans Surround Them, Get Scolded By People". The Times of India. 23 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Birthday Exclusive: Shalini Ajith Kumar". Deccan Chronicle. 20 November 2013.
- ^ Manjula (30 September 2020). "Shalini Ajith's Condition To Madhavan On Romantic Scenes In Alai Payuthey". The Hans India. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "Mangalam - Varika 27-Jan-2014". Mangalamvarika.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Ajith Shalini Marriage Ajith Kumar Wedding Photos Tamil Actor Details" Archived 8 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Celebrity.psyphil.com, 3 January 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Mangalam - Varika 27-Jan-2014". Mangalamvarika.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "#HappyWeddingDayAjithShalini: How religious differences never hindered their successful married life". onmanorama.com. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "Shalini's sibling Richard". The New Indian Express. 26 July 2010.
- ^ "ശാലിനിയുടെ കഥ, ശ്യാംലിയുടേയും...! - Page 2 | mangalam.com". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ `Acting is a lot of responsibility'[usurped], The Hindu, 10 October 2006.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu/Tiruchi News: From a child artiste to badminton player". The Hindu. 15 September 2006. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "Kunchacko Boban Celebrates 25 Years Of Aniyathipravu At Nna Thaan Case Kodu Location See Pictures". ottplay.com. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "Retro Ticket". 20 November 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Shekar, Anjana (30 November 2018). "Nadhiya hoops, Khushbu blouses, '96' kurta: A look at fashion inspired by Tamil cinema". The News Minute.
- ^ "Penchant for riveting romances - The Hindu". 20 June 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Kaadhalukku Mariyaadhai: Movie Review". Indolink.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: Director Saran on matters close to his heart". Rediff.com. 10 February 2000. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry". Rediff.com. 3 November 1998. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "Tamil Film Statistics - 2001". cooljilax.com. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: The Ajit-Shalini romance". Rediff.com. 15 September 1999. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ "Ajith and Shalini welcome baby boy". Deccan Chronicle. 2 March 2015.
- ^ "Ajith, wife blessed with baby boy, Twitter calls newborn Kutty Thala". Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ "Kongumudi (1985)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ "Shalini, Bharath Gopy, malayalam movies, Ente Mamattykkuttiyammakku".