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Shalini Ajith

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Shalini Ajith Kumar
Shalini in 2023
Born
Shalini Babu[1]

(1979-11-20) 20 November 1979 (age 45)
Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
OccupationActress
Years active1983–2001
Spouse
​
(m. 2000)​
Children2
RelativesShamlee (sister)
Richard Rishi (brother)

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 worked in Malayalam and Tamil films.

During the 80s, Shalini was the most successful child artist in both Malayalam, Tamil and 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 after her wedding before officially retiring from films.[3]

Early life

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Shalini 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

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Shalini 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] 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) with Vijay. 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) with Ajith Kumar, 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 Kannukkul Nilavu (2000).[19] She acted with R. Madhavan in the romantic drama Alai Payuthey (2000) directed by Mani Ratnam. She was last seen in the romantic comedy film Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001) with Prashanth.[20]

Personal life

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In 1999, during the shoot of Saran's Amarkalam, Shalini began to date her co-star Ajith Kumar. He proposed to Shalini.[21] 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.[22][23]

Filmography

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As a child artist

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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
Akkacheyude Kunjuvava Chakkimol
Oru Nokku Kanan Chinnukkutty/Unnimol Dual Role
Kongumudi[24] 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

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References

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  1. ^ "Actors Ajith & Shalini Skip Queue At Polling Booth As Fans Surround Them, Get Scolded By People". The Times of India. 23 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Birthday Exclusive: Shalini Ajith Kumar". Deccan Chronicle. 20 November 2013.
  3. ^ Manjula (30 September 2020). "Shalini Ajith's Condition To Madhavan On Romantic Scenes In Alai Payuthey". The Hans India. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Mangalam - Varika 27-Jan-2014". Mangalamvarika.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Mangalam - Varika 27-Jan-2014". Mangalamvarika.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "#HappyWeddingDayAjithShalini: How religious differences never hindered their successful married life". onmanorama.com. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Shalini's sibling Richard". The New Indian Express. 26 July 2010.
  9. ^ "ശാലിനിയുടെ കഥ, ശ്യാംലിയുടേയും...! - Page 2 | mangalam.com". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  10. ^ `Acting is a lot of responsibility'[usurped], The Hindu, 10 October 2006.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "Kunchacko Boban Celebrates 25 Years Of Aniyathipravu At Nna Thaan Case Kodu Location See Pictures". ottplay.com. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Retro Ticket". 20 November 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ Shekar, Anjana (30 November 2018). "Nadhiya hoops, Khushbu blouses, '96' kurta: A look at fashion inspired by Tamil cinema". The News Minute.
  15. ^ "Penchant for riveting romances - The Hindu". 20 June 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ "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)
  17. ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: Director Saran on matters close to his heart". Rediff.com. 10 February 2000. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  18. ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry". Rediff.com. 3 November 1998. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Tamil Film Statistics - 2001". cooljilax.com. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Shalini Ajith Kumar reunites with her 'Alaipayuthey' co-star R Madhavan after 24 years for a cute selfie".
  21. ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: The Ajit-Shalini romance". Rediff.com. 15 September 1999. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  22. ^ "Ajith and Shalini welcome baby boy". Deccan Chronicle. 2 March 2015.
  23. ^ "Ajith, wife blessed with baby boy, Twitter calls newborn Kutty Thala". Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  24. ^ "Kongumudi (1985)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Shalini, Bharath Gopy, malayalam movies, Ente Mamattykkuttiyammakku".
  26. ^ "Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, India".
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