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Shalini
Born
Shalini

(1979-11-20) 20 November 1979 (age 46)[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1983–1990 (as a child artist)
1997–2001 (as a leading actress)
Spouse(s)
(
m. 2000)
Children2
RelativesShamili (sister)
Richard Rishi (brother)

Shalini (born 20 November 1979), also known as Baby Shalini, is a former Indian child artist and actress who predominantly worked in Malayalam and Tamil films. During the 80s, Shalini was inarguably the most successful child artist in the Malayalam and Tamil film industries.[2] In the late-90s (after taking a brief hiatus from child acting), Shalini was featured in leading roles in Malayalam and Tamil films. She married her Amarkalam co-star, Ajith Kumar, on April 24, 2000 and bid adieu to films after her marriage.[3]

Early life

Shalini was born in a Protestant Malayali Christian family to Babu and Alice on 20 November 1979.[1][4][5][6] Her father is from Kollam.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9][10]

Career

Shalini started her career as a child artist in Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku and she acted in all the films under the direction of Fazil.[11] She also played the lead character in the TV serial Amloo telecast in the late 1980s on Doordarshan.[12] Her iconic hairstyle, a short bob with a front fringe, is still popularly known as the “Baby Shalini hair cut”.[13]

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.[14] 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".[15]

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.[16] She was offered a role in Padayappa,[17] 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, which was a flop at the box office.[18][19] Under Mani Ratnam’s direction, Shalini acted in arguably her most popular film Alaipayuthey (2000). She subsequently won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for her role in the film. In 2001, her last film Piriyadha Varam Vendum was released, a remake of the Malayalam movie Niram, also starring Shalini.

Personal life

In 1999, during the shoot of Saran's Amarkalam, Shalini began to date her co-star Ajith Kumar. He proposed to Shalini in June 1999 (before their movie release in Aug. 1999) and, following consultations of both sides of the families, she accepted.[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: a daughter born on 3 January 2008 and a son born on 2 March 2015.[21][22]

Filmography

As child artist

Year & Film Role Language Notes
1983
Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku Mamattukuttiyama/Tintu Malayalam Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist
Aadyathe Anuraagam Rajumon Malayalam
Oomakkuyil - Malayalam
Aanandha Kummi - Tamil Tamil Movie Debut
1984
Muthodu Muthu Achimol Malayalam
Amme Narayana - Malayalam
Onnum Mindatha Bharya Achuthan Nair's daughter Malayalam
Sandarbham Ravi's daughter Malayalam
NH 47 Mini Malayalam
Onnanu Nammal Sonykutty Malayalam
Krishna Guruvayoorappa Unnikrishnan Malayalam
Oru Sumangaliyude Katha Raji Malayalam
Minimol Vathicanil Minimol Malayalam
Chakkarayumma Shalu Mol Malayalam
Koottinilamkili Nandini/Rajimol Malayalam
Mangalam Nerunnu Usha Malayalam
Osai Tamil
1985
Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki Shalu Malayalam
Bandham Asha Tamil
Pillai Nila Shalini/Shalu Tamil
Amudha Gaanam Tamil
Jeevante Jeevan Biju Malayalam
Akkacheyude Kunjuvava Chakkimol Malayalam
Oru Nokku Kanan Chinnukkutty / Unnimol Malayalam
Katha Ithuvare Ramyamol Malayalam
Oru Kudakeezhil Baby Sridevi Malayalam
Aazhi - Malayalam
Aanakkorumma Bindu Malayalam
Iniyum Kadha Thudarum Ravindran's daughter Malayalam
Ormikkaan Omanikkaan - Malayalam
Muhurtham Pathnonnu Muppathinu Raji Malayalam
1986
Prathyyekom Shradikkuka Minimol Malayalam
Bharya Oru Manthri Anithamol Malayalam
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 Tamil
Jailu Pakshi - Telugu Telugu Movie Debut
Bandham Telugu
1987
Amme Bhagavathi Durga Malayalam
Sirai Paravai Tamil
Shankar Guru Devi Tamil
Chinnari Devatha Devi Telugu
Michael Raj Tamil
Rowdy Babai Tamil
1988
Brahma Puthrudu Sridevi Telugu
Chutti Poonai Shalini Tamil
August 15 Rathri Telugu
1989
Raja Chinna Roja Chitra Tamil
Rakhwala Mini Hindi First and only Hindi film till date
Bhagavan Baby Telugu
1990
Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari Pandu Telugu

As lead actress

Year Film Role Language Notes Ref.
1997 Aniyathi Pravu Mini Malayalam [23]
Kaliyoonjal Ammu Malayalam [24]
Kadhalukku Mariyadhai Mini Tamil Remake of Aniyathipraavu [25]
1998 Nakshatratharattu Hema Malayalam [26]
Kaikudunna Nilavu Veni Malayalam [27]
Sundarakilladi Devayani Malayalam
1999 Prem Poojari Hema Malayalam [26]
Amarkalam Mohana Tamil Also playback singer [28]
Niram Sona Malayalam [29]
2000 Kannukkul Nilavu Hema Tamil [citation needed]
Alaipayuthey Sakthi Tamil Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize for Best Actress
Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil
2001 Piriyadha Varam Vendum Nithee Tamil Remake of Niram [30]

Awards

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Mangalam - Varika 27-Jan-2014". Mangalamvarika.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "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. "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.
  5. "Mangalam - Varika 27-Jan-2014". Mangalamvarika.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2014.
  6. "#HappyWeddingDayAjithShalini: How religious differences never hindered their successful married life". www.onmanorama.com. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  7. "Shalini's sibling Richard". New Indian Express. 26 July 2010.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. `Acting is a lot of responsibility'[usurped], The Hindu, 10 October 2006.
  10. "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.
  11. "Kunchacko Boban Celebrates 25 Years Of Aniyathipravu At Nna Thaan Case Kodu Location See Pictures". www.ottplay.com. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  12. "Retro Ticket". Twitter. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  13. Shekar, Anjana (30 November 2018). "Nadhiya hoops, Khushbu blouses, '96' kurta: A look at fashion inspired by Tamil cinema". The News Minute.
  14. "Penchant for riveting romances - The Hindu". 20 June 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
  15. "Kaadhalukku Mariyaadhai: Movie Review". Indolink.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  16. "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: Director Saran on matters close to his heart". Rediff.com. 10 February 2000. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  17. "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: Gossip from the southern film industry". Rediff.com. 3 November 1998. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  18. "How did the 25th films of Ajith, Vijay and Suriya turn out?".
  19. "Tamil Film Statistics - 2001". www.cooljilax.com. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  20. "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: The Ajit-Shalini romance". Rediff.com. 15 September 1999. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  21. "Ajith and Shalini welcome baby boy". Deccan Chronicle. 2 March 2015.
  22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. "She's a big girl now!". Rediff.com. 9 April 1998.
  24. "Pyar to hona hi tha". Rediff.com. 15 September 1999.
  25. "Love makes the filmi world go round". Rediff.com. 4 November 1999.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Thomas, Edison (21 July 2014). "I'm taking my films more seriously now: Kunchacko Boban". The Times of India.
  27. "ഹിറ്റാണെന്ന് കരുതിയ ജയറാം-ദിലീപ് ചിത്രത്തിന് ശരിക്കും സംഭവിച്ചത്, തുറന്നുപറഞ്ഞ് നിര്‍മ്മാതാവ്‌". 17 July 2021.
  28. "20 years of Ajith's Amarkkalam". The Times of India. 13 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  29. "Screening for release this Diwali: Tamil films". Rediff.com. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  30. "'I enjoyed everything about acting, especially retiring after marriage and at a very young age because my childhood and youth have always been given to this wonderful movie industry. That, I was mostly able to achieve my wishes throughout my fulfilled life!': Shalini". Rediff.com. Retrieved 3 April 2019.