Shalini Nair (ഷാലിനി നായർ), popularly known as VJ Shalini, is an Indian video jockey, anchor, actress, and model from Thrissur, Kerala. Her real name is Ashwathy. Her father is a driver and her mother is a homemaker; her brother Appu works in Dubai. She married at the age of 18 and has a son, Unnikkuttan (who was approximately 13 years old at the time of Bigg Boss Season 4 in 2022). She subsequently divorced and raised her son as a single mother. She is a self-described ardent fan of Mohanlal, and has stated that her lifelong dream was to interview him - a goal she fulfilled upon entering the Bigg Boss house. She built her career as a VJ and anchor, hosting several programmes and award functions on Vanitha TV and other Malayalam channels. She has also appeared in a few Malayalam films in supporting roles. In addition to her television and film work, she runs a YouTube channel called Thalsamayam Shalini. In March 2022, she entered Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 4 as one of the original contestants. She was evicted in Week 3 (Day 20), finishing nineteenth overall. After the show, she went on to host the popular programmes Start Music and Oru Kodi. In December 2023, she married businessman Dileep, sharing a heartfelt social media post about her new chapter; their wedding photos went viral.
Hosting television shows on Vanitha TV; being a single mother who married at 18 and raised her son Unnikkuttan independently; her dream of interviewing Mohanlal fulfilled on Bigg Boss; finishing nineteenth on Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 4 (2022); remarrying businessman Dileep in December 2023; subsequent hosting of Start Music and Oru Kodi.
