Shalini Kumar was born on 20 November 1976 in Thiruvalla, Kerala into a Malayali Christian family. She started her career as a child artist at the age of three with the Malayalam film Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku (1983), which won her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist. During the 1980s, she became one of the most popular child actors in Malayalam and Tamil cinema, appearing in numerous films.
After a break, she returned as a lead actress in films like Aniyathi Pravu (1997), Amarkalam (1999), and Alaipayuthey (2000). Her performance in Mani Ratnam’s Alaipayuthey was especially praised. In April 2000, she married actor Ajith Kumar and soon retired from acting to focus on family life. She is now known more for her private life and her connection to Ajith Kumar, one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars.