Shobna Gulati, famed for her portrayal of Sunita Alahan on ITV's Coronation Street, is much more than just her iconic role. The actress, who graced the screen from 2001 to 2013, has had a remarkable career filled with ups and downs, showcasing her tremendous talent and resilience.
Initially rising to fame as part of the BBC sitcom Dinnerladies, Gulati went on to star in various beloved television shows, including EastEnders and Doctors. Her career blossomed as she took to the stage, winning acclaim for her performance as Ray in the West End production of Everybody's Talking About Jamie. She also starred as Mari Hoff in the 2022 UK tour of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice alongside her son Akshay, who is also pursuing acting.
Despite her accomplishments, Gulati has not shied away from discussing the darker sides of fame. The pressures of the limelight took their toll, leading her to experience severe depression. "Corrie fame made me a recluse. When I handed in my resignation, I knew it was the right thing," she reflects. Gulati has candidly expressed the challenges she faced. "When you're in a dark place, there only appears to be one way out. You try not to conceive of it. I've always tried not to reach low. But when depression hit, I could lock myself away for a week. I lived like a hermit.
Her departure from Coronation Street was bittersweet; she lamented the fate of her character, saying, "What a shame they killed Sunita off. The first time I left, the door was open for her to come back, but you get different producers with different ideas. I'm still in touch with some of the women there, and one of my best friends is Kate Ford [Tracy Barlow]. We're very close." These relationships showcase the lifelong connections she formed during her career.
Shobna's personal life has also been filled with challenges. She is the proud mother of 30-year-old Akshay, who has followed her footsteps, entering the acting world himself. Unfortunately, Gulati lived with her mother until her passing in 2019, having shared her struggles with stigma surrounding having her son outside of wedlock, which her community did not fully accept. Her personal relationships have seen ups and downs as well. She married Anshu Srivastava in 1990, but their marriage ended after just four years. She then dated Emmerdale's Gary Turner briefly before stepping out with Anthony Brown, who is 17 years younger. Their relationship also faced difficulties largely due to their age gap.
Today, Shobna remains active on social media platforms like Instagram, where she updates fans on her latest projects and personal insights. Embracing her natural look, she has taken to sharing her experiences about aging gracefully, opting to let her hair turn grey instead of dyeing it. This choice exemplifies her desire to embrace authenticity at this stage of her life. She's also opened up about the sometimes brutal realities of being an actress, sharing her recent experiences with rejection at auditions. "The face of rejection from something I didn't even know I wanted to do in the first place. Honestly, why on earth did I pick this career sometimes I really don't know anyway just so you it’s cold out there," she posted, candidly expressing her frustrations and the emotional toll it can take.
Shobna Gulati’s life story is one of resilience, showcasing not just the highs of having a beloved television career but also the personal struggles she has faced along the way. Her openness about depression and aging offers insights not only to her fans but also highlights the realities many public figures encounter behind the scenes. With her continued work and acknowledgment of her past, she proves to be not just a talented actress but also relatable and real—a true inspiration for many today.
