View Full Version : Sunita Parekh Alahan to return
Shobna Gulati is set to return to Coronation Street this summer to reprise her role as Sunita - Dev's ex wife.
She will return to the street with the twins Asha and Aadi.
ooh, that could be interesting, will either be great or really flop.
I thought as much when I read the interview with Kim Crowther. She should never have gone in the first place, imo. I think it will be good, hope she and Dev get back together. :thumbsup:
i did to, but i never took to her when she did i think it was where the heart is after
Chloe O'brien
08-05-2009, 21:24
They should bring her back at least Dev would have some decent stories
Corrie Blog states she comes back with the twins. They must be old enough to start school by the time she is back on Corrie. Would make for good storylines :cheer:
LostVoodoo
09-05-2009, 08:34
Corrie Blog states she comes back with the twins. They must be old enough to start school by the time she is back on Corrie. Would make for good storylines :cheer:
why have you put that in spoiler tags when we're in the spoiler forum? ;)
anyway, yes, it would be fabulous to have her back. the way she was written out was daft and it is equally daft that Dev doesn't even mention the twins etc.
well i think this is brilliant news, as it'll give Dev a proper storyline, and she was an alright character but not the most exciting one, have to see how this one plays out
Corrie Blog states she comes back with the twins. They must be old enough to start school by the time she is back on Corrie. Would make for good storylines :cheer:
why have you put that in spoiler tags when we're in the spoiler forum? ;)
anyway, yes, it would be fabulous to have her back. the way she was written out was daft and it is equally daft that Dev doesn't even mention the twins etc.
Because the thread is headed 'Rumour Mill', not spoilers :)
tammyy2j
09-05-2009, 22:22
Thats good news - give Dev a storyline and a proper love interest
tammyy2j
13-05-2009, 11:43
'Coronation Street' favourite Sunita Alahan is reportedly returning to the show after three years - with a glamorous new look.
Actress Shobna Gulati, who plays Sunita, has gone from brunette to blonde, and the Daily Mirror reports that her comeback is scheduled for later this year.
On her return Sunita is expected to make life very uncomfortable for her cheating ex-husband Dev (Jimmi Harkishin).
Sunita left Weatherfield in February 2006 after discovering that Dev had had several children with different women.
Sunita had not long given birth to twins and Dev was heartbroken that they and his wife would no longer be part of his everyday life.
The Mirror quotes a 'Coronation Street' source as saying: "Talks have been going on for some time to finalise a deal acceptable to all those who are involved.
"Sunita was a great character, so to have her back is exciting."
Former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati will make a return to the soap later this year, it has been confirmed.
The 42-year-old actress will reprise her role as Dev Alahan's (Jimmy Harkishin) wife Sunita in October after three years away from the ITV1 show.
Gulati made her Weatherfield debut in 2001 but was written out in 2006 when her character discovered that Dev had been unfaithful and decided to make a fresh start.
Discussing the comeback, Gulati told The Mirror: "They didn't kill Sunita off - she went to live in her parents' house in Swinton with her and Dev's twins.
"Sunita's a heartwarming character and I'd like to see her come back as a mature woman - she has brought up two kids on her own and she's not a girl anymore."
Coronation Street's producer Kim Crowther first hinted at a possible return for Gulati in an interview with DS last week, promising a "great new direction" for Dev involving "the return of some old faces".
It was later reported that talks were underway for the actress to make an "exciting" comeback.
Since leaving Weatherfield, Gulati has appeared in ITV1 family drama Where The Heart Is and BBC One's legal series New Street Law.
She looks quite different as a blonde :)
Chloe O'brien
17-05-2009, 00:17
Wow what a difference to the dowdy Sunita that left the the cobbles. Hope she keeps her new look for the show and knock Dev's socks off.
Chris_2k11
17-05-2009, 00:44
Sorry but I think that looks horrendous, doesnt look right at all
Looking forward to her returning though, it was always a silly mistake getting rid of her I thought.
LostVoodoo
17-05-2009, 05:07
Sorry but I think that looks horrendous, doesnt look right at all
ditto, it looks like a bad wig!
In a strange way I think it makes her look older
Hannelene
06-06-2009, 16:08
What did she do to her hair?
She used to look good now she looks odd :(
Plus what purpose would there be having her back?
Dev will at last be able to spend time with his twins, good enough reason for me to have her back on Corrie :)
Hannelene
07-06-2009, 14:59
Well I suppose there is that and at least he will have his children around him after Amber's departure.
tammyy2j
28-08-2009, 16:34
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed that she is eagerly anticipating her return to the soap.
The 43-year-old actress will reprise her role as Sunita Alahan in October following a three-year break from the cobbles.
In a new interview with Closer, Gulati has admitted that being reunited with her former screen husband Jimmy Harkishin (Dev) will be her personal highlight when she makes the comeback.
She commented: "He's my favourite - I can't wait to be back with him."
Though she wouldn't be drawn on what storylines are in store for Sunita, Gulati hinted that her old flaws may still get her into trouble.
"Sunita's a sweet girl to play, but she does make bad decisions," she confirmed.
Gulati's return is expected to form part of a "new direction" for Harkishin's womanising character.
GossipGirl
28-08-2009, 21:19
Is she back for good? I thought she left for good before?
Chris_2k11
28-08-2009, 21:39
I thought she left for good before?they always say that though don't they. moving on to "try new things" :D then their wanting to be back within a few years
GossipGirl
28-08-2009, 21:46
Maybe she wasn't so successful leaving?
But I feel her coming back is not a good thing as they hardly use Dev's character anymore
LostVoodoo
29-08-2009, 13:47
Maybe she wasn't so successful leaving?
But I feel her coming back is not a good thing as they hardly use Dev's character anymore
yes, plus the way she wrote her out was so daft. it never really made sense to split them up. how old will the twins be now?
GossipGirl
29-08-2009, 19:54
Maybe she wasn't so successful leaving?
But I feel her coming back is not a good thing as they hardly use Dev's character anymore
yes, plus the way she wrote her out was so daft. it never really made sense to split them up. how old will the twins be now?
About 2 or 3?
The way she left was mad :(
But how long will she stay now?
Hannelene
05-09-2009, 07:23
I thought she had divorced Dev after she found out he had fathered kids with most of his shop assistants?
GossipGirl
12-09-2009, 10:14
i wonder how long she will stay this time around- is she back for good?
Shobna Gulati has said that she is "excited" about returning to Coronation Street, but joked that she is not looking forward to being a screen mother.
Gulati will reprise her role as Sunita Alahan, who has five-year-old twins, when she returns to the soap in October.
"I'm not thrilled at the prospect of having to be mum to those kids!" she told the Sunday Mercury. "I think that's because mine is nearly grown-up now. The twins are five, so they're at that age.
"You know what they say about not acting with children or animals! I'm not sure if they'll appear with me straight away, or who they will get to play them."
However, Gulati said that she is sure the scripts will be "great".
"The Corrie writers are fantastic," she explained. "The whole company works in a very special way and I'm very excited to be part of that family again."
She added: "I wouldn't dream of ever saying no to Corrie."
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a178256/gulati-doesnt-want-to-be-a-screen-mum.html
Looking forward to her return. I wonder what the twins look like :D
Hannelene
21-09-2009, 20:44
I wonder about the kids too if Dev and her will be reunited
It says on Digital Spy that she is now returning in December rather than October, no reason given. :(
Hannelene
03-10-2009, 11:07
I don't know if I look forward to her return as I can't see what purpose she will serve
Hopefully she will get back with Dev, I am sure she was the only woman he really loved. :)
Hannelene
03-10-2009, 11:17
Maybe but it would of been nicer if she came back when Amber was around so they could have a chance at being a family. It feels now Amber is going it feels like the writers feel the need to introduce another relative or interest for Dev
Sunita is bringing the twins with her, so it is nice for Dev to be able to bond with his other children, now Amber will be around less often.
Hannelene
03-10-2009, 11:51
I thought her and dev divorced?
Yes, but she is coming back with the kids. They MUST put her and Dev together again *kneels and prays* :D
Hannelene
03-10-2009, 11:54
How long is the actress back for?
I have not read anywhere that she is back for a short time only, so I hope it is long term, especially as she will have the kids with her.
Hannelene
03-10-2009, 12:00
I just wonder if she will come back for a visit or something along those lines instead of a longer stay.
I get the impression it is longer but that could be wishful thinking. Have to wait and see. I wonder whether she is still blonde. :hmm:
Hannelene
03-10-2009, 12:08
The last time I saw her she was on celeb masterchef and she did look so different. She looks better when she has darker hair.
Christopher Colquhoun is joining Coronation Street.
Christopher will this week start filming the role of Matt Davis, new fiance of Dev Alahan's ex-wife Sunita.
Corrie bosses are planning a string of confrontations between jealous Dev and Matt after Dev discovers Sunita's marriage plans.
She's back with a new man
Christopher Colquhoun is joining Coronation Street.
Christopher will this week start filming the role of Matt Davis, new fiance of Dev Alahan's ex-wife Sunita.
Corrie bosses are planning a string of confrontations between jealous Dev and Matt after Dev discovers Sunita's marriage plans.
She's back with a new man
It will be good to see Dev overacting and trying to outdo Matt as he tries to win back his wife.
Oh dear he's started it already.
IT'S three years on and smarmy Dev is STILL trying to worm his way back into ex-wife Sunita's life.
In the first snaps of long-suffering Sunita (Shobna Gulati) back on the Street, resident charmer Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin) attempts to win her over with cheap flowers.
He is unhappy about her relationship with her new fiancé Matt Davis (Christopher Colquhoun).
But Sunita, who fled Weatherfield in 2006 after discovering Dev's affairs, turns him away, in the scenes shot in Manchester yesterday.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/2669133/Itll-take-more-than-flowers-to-woo-Sunita-Dev-Coronation-Street.html
Hannelene
07-10-2009, 09:44
Sunita turns him away which is good so they don't get back together?
Not unless Dev digs a bit deeper into his pockets :lol:
Hannelene
07-10-2009, 09:49
I hope he doesn't as I thought he had moved on since Sunita
But he hasn't, has he? So far, every relationship has ended quite quickly. Sunita has been and always will be the only one for Dev, I think.
Hannelene
07-10-2009, 10:01
I don't think dev is someone that can settle down as he always seems to want the family life then his eye wanders. He has had opportunities to settle down with previous girlfriends like Geena and Sunita but Dev screwed things up. I hope that Sunita has grown wise to Dev as he hasn't changed. Looked what happened with his last relationship.
Pictures from tv.sky.com showing Sunita, her fiance and her kids with Dev :cheer:
It's strange how Dev has never mentioned the twins (to my knowledge) in all these years. You'd have thought they didn't exist.
Aww how old are they now?
They must be 5 years old now or there-abouts
LostVoodoo
01-12-2009, 19:13
why is the hallway of that house so incredibly large?!
Because it is a very large house?
Shobna Gulati has insisted that she never had any regrets about leaving Coronation Street in 2005.
The actress bowed out of her role as Sunita Alahan four years ago in order to spend more time with her young son Ashkay. At the time, she had played the on-off partner of Weatherfield businessman Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) for more than five years.
Gulati has now returned to the ITV1 soap as part of an "exciting new direction" for Dev which has been promised by producers.
Speaking to the Sunday Mail about why she left the programme, the 43-year-old explained: "In 2005, Ashkay was 9 years old and just about to move up to secondary school. I'm a lone parent so I had to get used to home life a little more. It was time to do other things and be more anonymous.
"It was a tough decision. I lost sleep over it. But I think I made the choice well. I never thought, 'What have I done?'."
The soap star also promised that Sunita, who has a new fiancé, will be "a lot tougher" on screen this time around.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronationstreet/news/a190237/gulati-i-didnt-regret-leaving-corrie.html
Chris_2k11
07-12-2009, 17:20
What happened to the new hairstyle she got?
Does not look too different from what she used to have. I have pictures of her blonde but she looks dark again on the photos above
Maybe she changed it back for her character?
sean slater
11-12-2009, 23:16
Do you think that Sunita will get back with Dev eventually? i dont see how it would work with her living away from Weatherfield with another man. And I cant see him wanting to move nearer to Dev.
I think they're bound to get together eventually. I don't see any other reason for her coming back into it.
Do you think that Sunita will get back with Dev eventually? i dont see how it would work with her living away from Weatherfield with another man. And I cant see him wanting to move nearer to Dev.
i can see them getting back togather
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has admitted that she hates it when people tell her she looks thinner in real life.
The actress, who plays Sunita Alahan in the ITV1 soap, said that her 'pet hate' is when fans judge her appearance and compare it to her on-screen persona.
She told The Mirror: "I was eating lunch when somebody came up and said to me, 'You look really thin, you look really fat on television'. That's one of my pet hates. Every day if I step out of my front door somebody, somewhere, tells me if I'm looking thin or fat or tired or I look better in real life than on the telly.
"My favourite is I look fat on telly or I'm better looking in real life. You can now work out why I'm completely barmy! I don't think people realise there is so much pressure. I only ever wanted to be an actor. I did not want to be a celebrity."
The soap star added that she has tried a new dermal filler procedure to maintain youthful skin.
"I think it has made me look much fresher and in the days of other stuff I thought it would be more natural," she said.
Gulati has admitted in the past that she doesn't like her body.
She recently went on a charity trip to Africa, which she described as "tough".
DS
Why have Corrie brought back Sunita. Then basically not used her character that much. I think Shobna is a good actress unlike Dev who over acts.
Its all seems to be about Becky, Tracy, and Kylie these days. got to be boring. Need to bring in some of the other people.
Coronation Street's Sunita Alahan will soon make the shock decision to quit her job at the Corner Shop, a report has claimed.
Sunita, played by Shobna Gulati, decides to bow out from the business after she grows frustrated over husband Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) taking her for granted, according to the Daily Star.
It is thought that things soon look up for Sunita when she lands a new job pulling pints at the Rovers Return.
Sources say that the build-up to Sunita's big change begins when Dev starts dishing out special treatment to his rebellious daughter Amber (Nikki Patel), buying her a car for her birthday and letting her have the day off.
However, a furious Sunita apparently tells Dev: "I'm not taking any more of this. I'm fed up of being treated like a slave while Amber gets away with murder, so you can take this job and shove it because I'm out of here."
When the Rovers Return's bar manager Stella Price (Michelle Collins) learns of the developments, it is believed that she decides Sunita would be an asset to the team and snaps her up.
Coronation Street is expected to air Sunita's new storyline in the New Year.
SHE'S one of Coronation Street’s most popular characters – but how similar is corner-shop queen Sunita Alahan to the actress who plays her, the gorgeous Shobna Gulati? ‘I love playing Sunita, because she’s quite a funny woman, but savvy with it – and a lot has happened to her over the years,’ says 45-year-old Shobna – and she’s not kidding! Sunita has run away from an arranged marriage, been falsely imprisoned, diagnosed with a brain tumour and held hostage!
Right now she’s dealing with her troublesome stepdaughter Amber’s unexpected romantic dalliances, and husband Dev’s determination to make their young son a golfing supremo! Away from the cameras, Shobna – who also starred in Victoria Wood’s BBC1 sitcom dinnerladies – insists she’s quite a shy girl and not one to step out in the limelight, unless accompanied by her very close friend, celebrity make-up artist Armand Beasley, whose singular magic makes her feel super-confident. ‘What is so great about working on Shobna’s face is that she is up for anything!’ says 39-year-old Armand.
So when we invited Shobna for a lunch date at one of her favourite Manchester restaurants, the acclaimed Australasia, Armand came too – and we think you’ll agree, with or without his help, the lady looks absolutely stunning! Over some amazing Antipodean-inspired dishes created by head chef Carl Ryder, we learnt about life on the cobbles, deciphering Dev-speak – and being ‘Corrie’d’ everywhere from Thailand to Trenchtown!
Shobna, you took a break from Coronation Street for four years – what was it like when you returned to the cobbles in 2009?
It was like slipping on a pair of comfortable slippers. I just think it’s a brilliant place to work, and I’d really missed everybody. I’m one of those kind of people who doesn’t look back. You know when you’ve left somewhere! I was in touch with some people and went for drinks and meals – food is the key with me! – but I didn’t return to visit them on the cobbles. It was a job that was finished, and it would have only made me nostalgic.
Last year, when you first heard that Sunita was going to be trapped under the tram in the 50th anniversary show, did you think that was the end of your time on the show?
I think every actor thinks about the lift shaft, the tram… the brain tumour! I didn’t think I was going, but what I wanted to do was make everybody think I was going. So that was quite good, because the way it was shot meant that you didn’t know if she was going to live or die. And I loved that!
What was it like filming the live episode?
It was momentous. The schedule was tough. Because we had to go live for a week, we basically lost 15 episodes that we’d normally shoot in the week. We had to work around the clock on shifts. So sometimes you’d start at three in the morning. The Green Room was like a soup kitchen! In fact, there were huge vats of soup there, and actors lying everywhere, some of them fast asleep, some of them covered in rubble!
Has Sunita changed over the years?
I think she has. I think she realised halfway down the line that her children were the most important thing in her life, and she went back to Dev because of that. Now that she’s with him, she’s certainly not going to marry him in a hurry. At the end of the day, I think the tables are turning in their relationship. She was the shop girl in love with him, and very much at his whim and fancy, but now he’s constantly running to
her tune.
Jimmi Harkishin, who plays Dev, must be such fun to work with – and we all love his unique line delivery!
Tell me about it! Yes, it tickles me. It stitches me up, and I corpse regularly. Just the other day he had to say the word ‘prodigy’ – a tricky word at the best of times – and it came out funny. I think they just left me laughing. We couldn’t re-take, because I couldn’t stop – and every time he said that word, I started off again, so they just kept it in!
How do you know Armand?
I met Armand in 2000. We met at a mutual friend’s wedding, and we got on immediately. He’s done my make-up for years. Ever since we met, Armand and I have been everywhere together – we’re inseparable.
What’s so special about Armand as a
make-up artist?
He’s great because he works with you – he doesn’t just see the palette, he sees the person, and I think that’s important. When I go out, Armand does my make-up so that I feel super-confident. And he’s my friend too – so what a bonus!
Armand, what’s special about Shobna when it comes to doing her make-up?
What is so great about working on Shobna’s face is that she is up for anything. She’ll try any kind of look, she’s really experimental, and she loves the art of transformation. Because of the characters that she’s known for on TV are not the most glamorous, it’s a chance for her to really play with and explore the look and make-up.
Have you ever fallen out with her over a look or a make-up detail?
White eyeliner – she hates it! I wanted to put a bit on. My principle for make-up is an extension of yourself, it’s about your character, how you’re feeling at the time, and a look we did, not so long ago, was more of a ’50s feel – so liquid liner, white on the inside of the eye, lots of mascara. She rocked it!
Shobna, is it easy for you to walk around Manchester without being recognised?
No, not anywhere! I have this thing called ‘being Corrie’d’ – often in the most obscure places. I’ve been Corrie’d on the Khao San Road in Thailand and in Trenchtown in Jamaica. I’ve been Corrie’d probably all over the world. I quite like it, actually because it shows how much Corrie is loved worldwide.
What’s been your stand-out Sunita storyline over the years?
I’ve liked everything that Sunita’s done – and a lot has happened to her. Flipping heck, the girl’s had a brain tumour, she married her boss who had millions of kids without telling her – and do you remember when she got tied to a cooker, gagged and bound? It was funny to film, because the director would call for notes, and I’d still have gaffer tape around my ankles, and I’d be jumping down the cobbles, and they’d have to wait for me!
What about the happier storylines?
I quite liked it when Sunita was a bit of a goer and she went out with all these boys, and she ended up kissing at least two at the same time, which was Dev and Ciaran, played by the lovely Keith Duffy. That was a bonus! There are marvellous perks to my job.
Dev proposed to Sunita, unsuccessfully, in the Rovers – like many men do! What was that like to film?
It was so funny. What’s really hard about that is that everybody’s watching your scene. And really, I only had the word: ‘No!’ scripted. But it was a big ‘No!’ It just worried me all day, about how that scene would go. It’s a big pressure, that Rovers.
Who is your best mate on Corrie?
Kate Ford, who plays Tracy Barlow. When I joined Corrie, along with Kate, I asked if we could share my dressing room, and we became dressing room buddies, and we’ve remained close ever since. A lot gets shared in a dressing room!
How’s your son Akshay?
He’s lovely. He’s 17. He’s finished his GCSEs and he’s back in college. We made an agreement that I won’t speak for him unless he’s around – so I won’t!
What’s it like working with your screen children, Sunita’s twins?
They’re very sweet but as a mother, I’m happy that mine’s grown! And no, they do not make me broody! I love children – if they’re already made, that’s great, but I’m not going to make any more!
Armand, you’ve been a beauty
presenter on various shows for
some time now. Have you had any
on-screen disasters?
I did one TV show live, and it was just me to camera, doing a phone-in. I was doing some make-up on this model to answer the query. Then I felt this breeze behind me and the set started to wobble – and then a really strong breeze came and the set fell down all around us. You then saw raw brickwork, cameras and lights. You just have to think on your feet. I said something like: ‘This is a look that… will bring the house down!’
You’re also an actor – what might we have seen you in?
I was in Coronation Street once, funnily enough! I played Ravi, the maitre d’ of a restaurant.
What else are you up to?
I’m in BBC3’s new series Hot Like Us, which revolves around real-life couples and is a little bit of a cross between Britain’s Next Top Model and Big Brother. It’s about eight couples living together in a house, and one of them ends up being voted Britain’s hottest couple. I’m creating the various looks for the shoots with celebrity hairdresser Vincent Allenby, plus week by week giving them grooming tips so they sizzle!
(c) OK
Shobna Gulati, who plays Sunita Alahan on Coronation Street, was interviewed this morning on ITV's Daybreak about Sunita becoming the new Rovers Return barmaid in Corrie.
She says it's very daunting and Daybreak showed the VT of Sunita serving Dev in the pub, recommending he has a small brandy rather than a large one - very funny indeed! "You'll have drunks making passes," Dev warns his wife, jealous as anything. Shobna says Sunita loves winding up Dev by dressing up as a busty barmaid.
Shobna talks about the difference it makes working behind the Rovers Return bar, and it changes the way an actress behaves, she says it makes her feel very different as an actress. She's been taught how to pull pints by Michelle Keegan (Tina) and Michelle Collins (Stella).
She also talked about how great it is to have Michael Le Vell back on the set of Coronation Street, which was lovely to hear.
And... oooh!... she revealed that Sunita will be puckering up with another fella, someone who's not Dev. Wonder who it could be?
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed that she is delighted over her character Sunita Alahan's new job at the Rovers Return.
The actress promised that Sunita's fresh start will pave the way for some interesting storylines in the year ahead - including a possible romance twist for the mum-of-two.
Coronation Street fans will see Sunita quit her job at the Corner Shop later this week as she is tired of being taken for granted by her partner Dev (Jimmi Harkishin). However, things look up when Stella Price (Michelle Collins) offers her a part-time job at the pub.
Gulati told Daybreak today: "It's very strange. Being behind the bar, you suddenly feel very, very empowered. I can't explain - there's something about that bar that changes the way you behave and I think it's happened to Sunita, or it's happened to Shobna! But something's gone on and I feel incredibly different."
Asked whether Sunita has a big year ahead thanks to her new job, she replied: "I think so, because she interacts with different people. And I think Sunita may be puckering up - maybe not with Dev!"
Gulati also confirmed that Sunita tries to look as glamorous as possible for her first shift behind the bar, choosing an outfit which shows off her cleavage.
She said: "It's how she imagines a barmaid looks like. And also to wind up Dev, she's dressed like that - absolutely. But then she kind of gets used to it and wears that all the time!"
Coronation Street's Sunita Alahan will be arrested for a breach of the peace in an upcoming episode.
The Weatherfield housewife, who is portrayed by 45-year-old actress Shobna Gulati, will be cautioned by police after a drinking session spirals out of control.
According to the Daily Star, Sunita gets drunk when friend Stella Price (Michelle Collins) takes her on a night out to distract her from her ailing marriage to Dev (Jimmi Harkishin).
However, Sunita is taken to the police station after being caught jumping on the bonnet of a car by its owner outside the Bistro.
When Dev hears about his wife's arrest, he reportedly says: "It's no surprise to me because she has finally lost the plot and I'm going to do nothing to help her. A long cold night in the slammer will teach her a valuable lesson."
It was recently revealed that Sunita will soon embark on an affair with Stella's partner Karl. Coronation Street boss Phil Collinson said of the storyline: "It'll play out for quite a while, but all hell will break loose when Stella finds out."
"It was recently revealed that Sunita will soon embark on an affair with Stella's partner Karl. Coronation Street boss Phil Collinson said of the storyline: "It'll play out for quite a while, but all hell will break loose when Stella finds out."
Stellurgh that's terrible news, the best thing you can do is pack your bags and leave Weatherfield vowing never to return, that'll show 'em. ( New Zealand's nice this time of year) You can bet Traceyluv & Dreary have put Sunita up to it so I'd give 'em both a good slapping before departing for the airport
I wish Phil Collinson would wise up. We don't want St. Ella even on Corrie let alone be the centre of every storyline. Just because she went to New York at Christmas with him does not make her a good actor. She and her brood have ruined Corrie
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has announced plans to appear in a British Bollywood film.
The project will be completed in a 10-day start-to-finish schedule during the Southbank Centre's Alchemy Festival in London.
Jude Kelly, Artistic Director at Southbank Centre, said: "Befitting a region whose identity has been shaped and re-shaped over millennia through the intermingling of peoples and their cultures, our third Alchemy is the most collaborative - the most alchemic - yet.
"For 10 days the entire Southbank Centre will buzz with the sights, sounds, tastes and thoughts of the subcontinent as leading cultural organisations, Nobel prize-winning authors, acclaimed designers, British Asian soap stars, filmmakers, DJs and master musicians from Rajasthan, Pakistan and Portsmouth come together to celebrate, collaborate and explore what this culture is and could be."
Playwright Nikesh Shukla will write the script to the Aneil Karia-directed project. Gulati - who plays Sunita Alahan in the soap opera - has signed on to choreograph the film's song and dance sequence.
Festival-goers and participants in free Bollywood dance classes will have the opportunity to appear as extras in the film, starring alongside dancers, actors and musicians from across London.
The Alchemy Festival is scheduled to run from April 12 to April 22.
"It was recently revealed that Sunita will soon embark on an affair with Stella's partner Karl. Coronation Street boss Phil Collinson said of the storyline: "It'll play out for quite a while, but all hell will break loose when Stella finds out."
Stellurgh that's terrible news, the best thing you can do is pack your bags and leave Weatherfield vowing never to return, that'll show 'em. ( New Zealand's nice this time of year) You can bet Traceyluv & Dreary have put Sunita up to it so I'd give 'em both a good slapping before departing for the airport
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Oh errr missus
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed that a fan of the soap warned her off her character's love interest Karl Munro (John Michie) during a trip to the supermarket.
The actress, who plays Sunita Alahan in the ITV1 serial drama, will be seen cheating on Dev (Jimmi Harkishin), starting an affair with pub landlord Karl in scenes to be aired later this week.
Gulati said in a video posted on the official Coronation Street website: "I think Sunita's got a little bit of a soft spot for Karl, that gambling man, yeah. You know, somebody said to me the other day in the supermarket [that] he was a gambler and I should be very careful, because he'd seen me flirting with him.
"I wasn't aware that I was actually flirting with John. Maybe that's just a natural vibe!"
Gulati also confirmed that sparks fly following Sunita's forthcoming arrest for drunk and disorderly behaviour, explaining that Karl comes to collect her "after she's arrested and she's looking really miserable".
"[It's] definitely interesting viewing, definitely keep watching, because Sunita and Karl - how hot is that?" she quipped.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays on ITV1.
Coronation Street's Shobna Gulati has said that her character Sunita is suffering a "massive personal meltdown".
Her alter ego has recently grown close to gambling addict Karl Munro (John Michie), the wife of Rovers Return landlady Stella Price (Michelle Collins).
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© ITV
The 45-year-old actress, who has played the Alahan matriarch on-and-off since 2001, told Soaplife: "She's having a massive personal meltdown.
"She needs some time and space to gather her thoughts - and to have time out from Dev (Jimmi Harkishin)."
When asked whether Sunita could have an affair with Karl, Gulati said: "I think if she could get away with it she would. Stella's her friend and she would feel guilty.
"But Karl has added a level of excitement to her life. He makes her feel special - and that's what has been missing with Dev."
tammyy2j
04-04-2012, 14:14
I'm finding Sunita terribly annoying I even feel sorry for dupey Dev
I'm finding Sunita terribly annoying I even feel sorry for dupey Dev
It's Sunita I feel sorry for. Even the so-called holiday Dev booked to make peace was really a golfing holiday for the boys. It shows his level of commitment to their relationship and complete lack of sensitivity.
Coronation Street barmaid Sunita Alahan takes things a step further with troubled Karl Munro next week as the pair sleep together for the first time.
When Stella (Michelle Collins) kicks Karl (John Michie) out of The Rovers after discovering his gambling debts, Sunita steps in to comfort him - believing that they share an understanding as she's feeling disillusioned in her own relationship too.
Sunita and Karl soon give into their feelings for each other, but will this be the start of a full-blown affair? And are they playing a dangerous game? Digital Spy recently caught up with Shobna Gulati, who plays Sunita, to hear all about the storyline.
We've seen quite a few changes for Sunita this year. What do you make of her new storylines?
"I'm really enjoying them, particularly this new lease of life she's had by being in The Rovers. I'm enjoying her interpretation of being a barmaid, clothes-wise! It's all very different for her. I think we're seeing Sunita grow up into a woman."
Is it easy to settle in behind the Rovers bar?
"It's fantastic and it's a thrill. Stepping behind that bar makes you feel a bit humbled, because it's legendary. Bar work is not that far from stuff that I've done in the past in real life, so it doesn't freak me out. But when there are other barmaids and various characters behind the bar, it's a bit like choreography! There's so many of us, so we have to organise who's going in which direction, otherwise we'll all bump into each other!"
We've all seen the romantic spark developing between Sunita and Karl. What's the main attraction of him for Sunita?
"Everyone's asking me this! It's because he's naughty, isn't it? Sunita also thinks that he's cute, and above all, he's noticed her. That's the main thing - Dev hasn't 'seen' Sunita for ages. Even when she's dressed in her new style, Dev just thinks it's funny. He's taken his eye off the ball."
Do you think their relationship issues are all Dev's fault, or are there problems on both sides?
"I don't think it's totally Dev's fault. With Sunita, it's just a point in her life where she's growing up. Sunita started in Coronation Street when she was 23, but this is a decade on. I think any woman would say that they've changed through different decades of their lives.
"Sunita has had her kids, and now that they're growing up, she's finding herself a bit. She sees herself differently, but Dev is not noticing her. Sunita has felt very much in the background, but now she's coming out of herself and she's noticing Karl."
Doesn't Sunita find Karl's gambling problems off-putting?
"No, Sunita wants to be needed. That's the whole thing - she wants to be noticed and she wants to be needed. Every girl wants a challenge, and Sunita thinks that she can change Karl."
Stella has been a good friend to Sunita. Does Sunita feel guilty about pursuing her partner?
"Oh yes, Sunita has got lots of guilt at the moment. But further on in the storyline, I think that changes…"
After working with Jimmi Harkishin so closely over the years, would you be sad to see Sunita and Dev split up?
"Well, I think what happens in soap, stays in soap! They're a long-established couple and we don't know what's going to happen to them. We don't know whether they'll split for good, or whether they'll be like Kevin and Sally, or Deirdre and Ken! But the stakes are really high for them, because they've got the children and they've come through a lot.
"At the moment, it's great fun because there's a new, fresh energy that's come with working with John Michie and Michelle Collins, which is great. We'll have to wait and see how it progresses!"
How did you feel about saying goodbye to Nikki Patel (Amber) recently?
"Working with Nikki was great fun, because when she first joined the show in 2005, I was about to leave - so I only got a little bit of time working with her. But now I've had the chance to work more closely with her, and it was great. We're actually going out to dinner tonight! I was really sad to see her go, because I think Amber brought an interesting dynamic - she brought something else to the party."
How are you finding life at Corrie in general?
"It's my third year back now, and it's all really good. It's been great to come back and participate again, as there's a great team and a great community here. Cast, crew and production all work towards one goal, which is the programme. I did miss them all when I was away, because everybody looks out for each other."
You're also working on a Bollywood film, aren't you?
"Yes, it's my weekend job! The film has a cast of about six to eight young people in it, and what I'm working on is the big dance section that you see in Bollywood movies. It's the 'cast of thousands' dance section, it's open to everybody, and I'll be leading three workshops on April 15. They're open access workshops - open to anybody of any age.
"Basically, they'll have the experience of doing some Bollywood with me, and then we'll go out on location to film it at the Southbank. Basically, you learn it and then you're in your own movie!"
How are you fitting it in with your busy Corrie schedule?
"I'm just working seven days a week at the moment, including nights. I am a bit of a workaholic! That's my thing and I love it. I like people, I like working in a community, and I like meeting others.
"I also love the idea of access to dance. Dance has exploded onto our screens with stuff like Strictly, Let's Dance and the various other talent shows that exist. You get to see a lot of dance now, more than you ever did ten years ago. Trying to make it accessible is something that I've always done, so to get a chance to do it on such a large scale and do it for a film is going to be great fun."
LostVoodoo
05-04-2012, 13:31
It's Sunita I feel sorry for. Even the so-called holiday Dev booked to make peace was really a golfing holiday for the boys. It shows his level of commitment to their relationship and complete lack of sensitivity.
I agree, he's completely self-centred and after all that's happened with them it's obvious he's not going to change because he doesn't think there's anything wrong with it. I think she regrets them getting back together.
Stunning Corrie star Shobna Gulati is about to strip to her undies for some of the soap’s steamiest-ever scenes.
Millions of fans will be on the edge of their seats as Shobna, who plays married Sunita Alahan, tumbles into bed with lovable gambling addict Karl Munro.
The passionate affair will complete Sunita’s transformation from dowdy mum to sex bomb but filming the scenes has not been easy for Shobna.
In fact, the night before filming the sex scenes the nervous 45-year-old was *terrified and in floods of tears.
She revealed: “I cried at home the night before, just thinking about it.
“It wasn’t just the idea of getting undressed, it was the kissing and the fact that there were going to be people in the room while we filmed it.”
Shobna has struggled with her body image for years and says her insecurities over her shape and size only added to her nerves before filming.
She said: “It was a closed set but there was still a camera man, a sound man, a cable man and someone from costume.
“And you know there is the director and other people watching on the monitor. It makes you feel very shy.
“I’ve done a film before where I’ve been completely naked but this was very *different. That was a short film and I was never really going to see those people again, *whereas I’m working with these people again the next day.
“And, because it’s Coronation Street, it’s going to be watched by millions of people.”
She was so worried that she confided her fears in John Michie, 55, who plays Karl.
She explained: “A lot of it was to do with how I feel about myself, which added to the anxiety. I have concerns about my body and I will always have concerns and I did tell John because I think he needed to know.
“He’s new to me and I’m new to him so I just needed him to know that I was absolutely petrified.
“In the story Karl and Sunita are in a hotel room together. The viewers will only see little glimpses of it, but my dress came off which was quite scary and I end up just wearing my underwear.
“I really had to psyche myself up to do it. As I sat there waiting to start I did have tears in my eyes because I felt so scared.
Snogging
“Generally I will find a friend to practise my lines with ahead of filming but I didn’t with these – no way. I read them on my own and then we just did it on the day – you can’t practise snogging someone.”
Rovers Return barmaid Sunita – who has been neglected for months by *distracted husband, shop owner Dev – has already stolen a drunken kiss from Karl when he collected her from the police station. But their affair is about to hot up.
And while Shobna doesn’t necessarily approve of Sunita’s fling, she says she does understand her behaviour. She also *confesses that, in the past, she hasn’t always been faithful in relationships.
“I am old enough to have made *mistakes,” she admitted. “To me it’s *something you do when you’re young – you start going out with one person and then you want to go out with another and the two cross over. That has happened.
“We’ve all done it. Somewhere down the line we’ve all told lies and said things that aren’t correct. But now, looking back on all that madness, I wouldn’t do it again.
“Now I don’t know if an affair can ever be justified, to be absolutely honest, it’s betrayal. It’s terrible and it’s going to end in tears for everyone concerned. I’m very tough about it – it is wrong.
“It even feels awkward when I’m filming it – as though I’m actually cheating on someone myself.”
Shobna, who grew up in Oldham, Lancashire, married at 23 but the *relationship broke up after a year. By 28 she became a single mum and has single-handedly raised son Akshay, now 17.
Sexy
She admitted: “It’s been hard bringing up a child on my own but without a partner it can be easier in some ways. I don’t have to negotiate with anyone else. I decided the way to raise him – it’s my rules.”
Shobna met someone in July but has no plans to tie the knot. She smiled: “He’s a really nice person and I’m having a great time. It’s new for me to be involved more seriously with someone.
“I think he likes me too but I haven’t thought about marrying him – not yet anyway. It’s not something I consider, *although I’m not ruling it out.”
Shobna’s happy home life is a welcome relief from her trials as Sunita.
Sunita has felt increasingly *isolated as she and Dev, *preoccupied with golf and business, have grown *further apart and clashed over the behaviour of Amber, his daughter from a previous relationship.
Shobna explained: “Sunita can’t *understand why Dev doesn’t notice her anymore. He just bumbles along. He sees her as the mum of his kids, not as a woman or his equal.
“He laughed at her when she got her job in the Rovers and doesn’t listen to her. Karl has seen something about her that she longs Dev to notice. He thinks she’s sexy.”
But Karl has his own problems having stolen the weekly takings from the Rovers, run by partner Stella Price, and blaming a burglary. He then gambles it all away.
Things get even worse when a bailiff turns up at the Rovers and Stella, played by Michelle Collins, 51, throws him out as she learns of the extent of his debts.
He visits Sunita for *sympathy but as Dev has taken the children away on holiday and they have the house to themselves, the couple end up romping on her sofa.
One upside of her screen fling is that Sunita’s Coronation Street wardrobe has had to be completely revamped to reflect her transformation from plain mum of two to sexy vamp. And Shobna admits she has loved every minute of it.
“It’s been amazing because it’s made me feel really good,” she said candidly.
“And I think the boys in the cast and the sound department and on the crew have enjoyed it too.
“I’m definitely getting noticed a bit more. I get wolf whistles and I get the men saying: ‘what’s she got on today?’”
She revealed: “It’s been the same in the supermarket. For the first time in my life, guys want to come and say hello. And it’s all: ‘aye, aye, Sunita, all right then?’ But a little bit of attention doesn’t go amiss now and then. It’s been very empowering to celebrate my body a bit more.”
The decision to change her look was a joint one between Shobna and the Corrie wardrobe department.
“We agreed that Sunita had to change from her smock tops into a woman you would believe was ripe for an affair,” Shobna explained.
“When she’s behind the bar she looks quite different these days.
“Although I don’t think the tops are *actually low-cut, I think my breasts are just large. Anyone else wearing them would look *normal and I just look busty but there are worse things in life!”
Shobna, who made her TV debut in 1997 as Anita in Victoria Wood’s *acclaimed comedy series dinnerladies, joined Coronation Street in 2001.
Before acting she worked as a dancer and away from the cobbles she still likes nothing more than choreographing local theatre and dance groups. Currently she is helping out with two community projects – the Tower Theatre group in East London, helping them stage a play for the Cultural Olympiad – a competition run by the RSC for local theatre groups to stage Shakespeare plays.
And she is also running free Bollywood dance workshops as part of the Alchemy Festival in the Clore Ballroom at London’s Southbank Centre on April 15.
She also thinks she would like to chance her arm in Hollywood one day but, for now, she is relishing the prospect of her spicy new storyline. Not that all her family will be thrilled.
She grinned: “It’s not a romantic *relationship. It’s all about sex. It’s sofas and hotel bedrooms and alleys – anywhere they can get 15 minutes together.
“If they can do it, they’ll do it. I don’t know what my mum is going to say!”
Corrie has been shortlisted at the Soap Awards. Vote at www.britishsoapawards.tv
People
For those who cannot wait
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Who is she trying to kid
She revealed: “I cried at home the night before, just thinking about it.
“It wasn’t just the idea of getting undressed, it was the kissing and the fact that there were going to be people in the room while we filmed it.”
Shobna has struggled with her body image for years and says her insecurities over her shape and size only added to her nerves before filming.
She said: “It was a closed set but there was still a camera man, a sound man, a cable man and someone from costume.
“And you know there is the director and other people watching on the monitor. It makes you feel very shy.
“I’ve done a film before where I’ve been completely naked but this was very *different. That was a short film and I was never really going to see those people again, *whereas I’m working with these people again the next day.
“And, because it’s Coronation Street, it’s going to be watched by millions of people.”
And there was me feeling sorry for her reading that she was nearly crying whilst filming the underwear scenes!
Coronation Street's Shobna Gulati has admitted that she thinks Dev and Sunita's future together looks bleak.
The actress told What's On TV that despite her character's recent proposal, the couple's relationship is not as strong as it once was.
"I think Sunita has gone off Dev, she most certainly has gone off him," she explained. "But does she still love him? I don't know. I think that's yet to be revealed."
Following her character's affair with Karl Munro, Gulati said that Sunita is still very confused and unsure of her actions.
"I think Sunita's in very many minds at the moment, she's made this choice but we don't know where she's going to go next," she said.
has admitted that she does not share the ambitious dress sense of Coronation Street alter ego Sunita Alahan.
Writers have recently transformed Sunita's appearance to coincide with her affair with Karl Munroe.
The tight-fitting dresses. I am quite embarrassed and sometimes I bang my head against the Rovers bar and wonder what I'm doing."
However, she added: "I think I have a new-found confidence from it.
"She says the most outrageous things to Karl. I've particularly enjoyed moving into the Rovers as a barmaid."
The 45-year-old was last month awarded 2012's Rear of the Year prize along with John Barrowman.
She also quit Twitter last month after receiving racist abuse.
Shobna Gulati has admitted that she does not share the ambitious dress sense of Coronation Street alter ego Sunita Alahan.
Writers have recently transformed Sunita's appearance to coincide with her affair with Karl Munroe.
The tight-fitting dresses. I am quite embarrassed and sometimes I bang my head against the Rovers bar and wonder what I'm doing."
However, she added: "I think I have a new-found confidence from it.
"She says the most outrageous things to Karl. I've particularly enjoyed moving into the Rovers as a barmaid."
The 45-year-old was last month awarded 2012's Rear of the Year prize along with John Barrowman.
She also quit Twitter last month after receiving racist abuse.
Coronation Street's Shobna Gulati has admitted that she finds real-life romances difficult to maintain.
The 46-year-old actress, who plays Sunita Alahan in the ITV soap, also disclosed details of her most recent off-screen relationship.
"I don't go for the right men, that's my problem," she told The People. "I'm just rubbish. If it was a school subject my report would read, 'Rubbish at boys. Must try harder!'"
"To be honest I haven't been in love yet," the star further divulged. "I've told people I loved them and I must have loved them in a way but I've never really been in love."
Gulati claimed that her last boyfriend had an ulterior motive, recalling: "I thought our relationship was serious but I don't think he was really in it for me.
"It was more about what he wanted to get out of it, with me being in Corrie. I'd love to spend all my life in my pyjamas. I'm not showbiz and I think that was a difficulty.
"We had a good time and I don't regret it. What I should do really is when the alarm bell goes, don't ignore it. I should listen. I'm quite childlike and I am a bit naive. I take people at face value."
Her Weatherfield character Sunita - who brings up children with shopkeeper Dev - recently had an affair with gambling addict Karl Munro.
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has announced that she is leaving the soap.
The actress's character Sunita Alahan will bow out next year, and show bosses have promised an "explosive exit" for the Weatherfield mum.
Gulati is hoping to explore other career opportunities after making her departure, including spending more time on her comedy writing.
In a statement released on itv.com, the 46-year-old commented: "I have loved playing Sunita but, having played the role originally from 2001 to 2005 and then returning to Corrie four years ago, I really feel the time has come for me to focus on other aspects of my career.
"I had always told myself I would see my son through school, and I have done that. Comedy writing has long been a passion of mine and the commitment to a show like Corrie is huge and doesn't really leave enough time to concentrate on other projects. I'd love to be able to combine my writing and acting career in the future.
"Playing Sunita has been a fabulous opportunity. I've thoroughly enjoyed her journey and am looking forward with excitement to her dramatic departure. I shall miss her. That said, I have made a host of friends [in the] cast and crew - friendships that will stay with me."
Sunita has been at the centre of a big storyline this year, setting up home with Karl Munro (John Michie) after the pair cheated on their respective partners Dev and Stella.
Coronation Street's producer Phil Collinson added: "It's been a pleasure to work closely with Shobna these last few years. Sunita's mid-life crisis and the disintegration of the Alahans' marriage has kept Coronation Street viewers on the edge of their seats for the past six months.
"It's sad to lose such a well-loved and brilliantly played character, but it provides an exciting storyline opportunity and the writing team are already looking forward to developing a brilliant exit story for her.
"Viewers can expect something very memorable. We of course wish Shobna well in everything she does next."
no loss good riddance to her she can take karl with her
Sunita Alahan will reportedly unite with lover Karl Munro's ex-girlfriend Stella Price in a forthcoming Coronation Street storyline.
Shobna Gulati's character will fear that Karl is cheating on her when he starts disappearing without explanation, according to the Daily Star. Sunita and Karl began an affair earlier this year.
Rovers Return landlady Stella (Michelle Collins) will apparently encourage Sunita to kick Karl (John Michie) out of her home, saying: "I was with Karl for a very long time. Looking back now I don't know how I did it, I really don't.
"I must have been out of my mind to forgive him for all the excuses and lies. A leopard never changes his spots."
Stella will apparently warn Sunita not to "waste years of [her] life" on Karl as she did, suggesting that she will regret it and adding: "Don't let him take advantage of you, kick him out."
"Karl has got away with his bad boy behaviour for too long. He thinks he's got Sunita wrapped around his little finger," claimed a show insider.
"But he won't expect his new girlfriend to team up with his ex. He's not going to know what's hit him."
Gulati is to leave Coronation Street next year in order to spend more time on projects including her own comedy writing.
Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a440280/coronation-streets-sunita-stella-to-unite-against-love-rat-karl.html#ixzz2D1Jp2wqv
parkerman
23-11-2012, 19:21
I didn't realise Sunita and Karl were still in Corrie. Where have they been for the last month or so?
I didn't realise Sunita and Karl were still in Corrie. Where have they been for the last month or so?
Locked in their love nest having torrid sex for the last 6 weeks.
parkerman
24-11-2012, 09:54
Too much information, Alan! :sick::eek:
sunita pestered karl not that it took much and now stella is friends with her again what an idiot all of them no brain cells betweem them
Street star is dating Tony Brown, who works alongside Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby as a runner on This Morning
IT looks like things are getting hot for Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati off-screen as well on it.
The 46-year-old actress is cuddling up to a new toyboy as soap bosses get ready to kill off her character, barmaid Sunita Alahan, in a fire at the Rovers.
Shobna has been dating Tony Brown, 17 years her junior, for a few months after meeting him when she guested on ITV’s This Morning.
Tony works as a runner on Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby’s hit show. And until now the couple have tried to keep their relationship quiet.
They both attended the National Television Awards in London last week but arrived and left separately.
In his spare time Tony, 29, is a *budding rap artist called Mr Brown – and now friends say he’s shaping up to be Shobna’s Mr Right. One told us: “They’ve been together for a while now and things are going brilliantly.
“They hit it off immediately when they met in the green room at This Morning. Tony lives in London, but when they do spend time together they have a great laugh. They are taking things slowly but are enjoying each other’s company.”
Only a few months ago divorcee Shobna spoke about how hard it was to find true love. She said: “I don’t go for the right men. That’s my problem.
“I’m just rubbish. If it was a school subject my report would read, ‘Rubbish at boys. Must try harder’. To be honest I haven’t been in love yet. I’ve told people I loved them, and I must have loved them in a way, but I’ve never really been in love”.
She joked that she often attracted younger men. “My friend laughs that when we are out and she goes to the toilet she comes back and there’s another lad at the table,” said Shobna, who also starred in BBC comedy Dinnerladies.
Whatever her plans are after the Rovers burns down, at least her love life seems to be sizzling along nicely...
Coronation Street stars Shobna Gulati and Natalie Gumede have shot their final scenes for the soap.
Gulati announced her departure from the ITV show last year, after returning as Sunita Alahan four years ago.
Gumede will bow out of Corrie following her character Kirsty Soames's domestic violence storyline with Tyrone Dobbs, played by Alan Halsall.
The departing actresses filmed their final scene together, despite their characters rarely interacting. However, this won't be the last on-screen scene as they are filmed out of chronological order.
Gulati tweeted: "The saddest day my dearest friends who bring u the best entertainment and yet a true feeling of freedom love #corrie cast and crew."
Halsall tweeted: "Such a tough day. Saying goodbye the the amazingly talented @NatalieGumede well only at the cobbles. Nearly finished my scene then beers."
Catherine Tyldesley, who plays Eva Price, added: "I don't want @ShobnaGulati and @NatalieGumede to go :-( . The cobbles are totes emosh today :-(."
dinglemafia
04-03-2013, 22:57
Does anyone know for sure when the rovers reburnt storyline happens?
tammyy2j
05-03-2013, 15:47
Does anyone know for sure when the rovers reburnt storyline happens?
My guess end of March or start of April abouts
Corrie star Shobna Gulati has joined Loose Women.
The 46-year-old actress, who has recently finished filming her final scenes as Sunita Alahan in the soap, is 'delighted' to be joining the regular panellists which include Denise Welch and Carol Vorderman.
Gulati said: "I'm delighted to be joining the Loose Women team. It's a show I have watched and loved for years."
Sharon Powers, Loose Women's executive producer, added: "We're thrilled that Shobna will become a Loose Woman - she is a very exciting addition to the team."
Viewers will also get to see Gulati sharing her feelings with the Loose Women panellists when she phones in for a chat on today's show (ITV, 12.30pm).
Sunita's death scenes will air within the next few weeks as she has been widely tipped to be killed off as part of the upcoming Rovers fire storyline.
Shobna Gulati announced her Corrie departure late last year.
Does anyone know for sure when the rovers reburnt storyline happens?
18th - 20th March
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed that TV fame prevented her finding true love and becoming a mum for the second time.
The actress, who quit her role as Sunita Alahan in October 2012, admitted that she struggled to find suitable boyfriends as men could not deal with the pressures of going out with her.
Speaking to The Sun, she said: "My Corrie fame affected my love life. It affects every part of your life but especially your love life.
"It's hard to meet someone who doesn't know who you are. I've had men go out with me simply because they see me as a celebrity."
Gulati, 46, has now finally found love with 29-year-old boyfriend Anthony Brown, who she met on ITV's This Morning, where he is a runner. However, she has expressed her heartbreak over not having any more children as a sibling for her son, Akshay.
She commented: "We fit together nicely. I met him a few times on This Morning and I thought he was lovely.
"I would have had more kids but I never found anybody that was right to settle down with. I've picked the wrong guys. It's heartbreaking for me.
"Time seemed to roll on and then suddenly I was 44 and doctors discovered I had fibroid's in my womb. The only way to get rid of them was to take away most of my womb and be sterilised.
"I didn't have much choice, if I'd fallen pregnant it could have been very dangerous."
Gulati also admitted that despite being happy in her relationship now, she is not sure if she would marry again.
"I don't know what the future holds for me and Anthony. I don't know if I want to marry again.
"Anthony and I are miles apart in age and I don't want him to miss out on children."
Gulati has revealed recently that she left Coronation Street because of her struggle with depression.
After leaving the soap, she is set to become a regular on the Loose Women panel.
Coronation Street's Sunita Alahan takes centre stage in some of the soap's biggest ever scenes next week as the Rovers Return goes up in flames.
Sunita is left lying unconscious in the pub's cellar as the fire takes hold in must-see episodes airing next Monday (March 18).
With actress Shobna Gulati bowing out from her role as Sunita, it's no secret that the shock fire storyline marks the end of her time on the cobbles - but there may well be a few unexpected twists and turns along the way.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Shobna to hear about her decision to leave Coronation Street, the fire scenes and her future plans.
Why did you decide it was the right time to leave Coronation Street?
"Corrie has been invaluable to me as I've been bringing up my son over the past few years. But I've brought him up now, he's 18 and it's time to spread my wings. I am 47 this year, and in my head, that's just before 50. I just think it'd be nice to put Sunita to bed and work on something else.
"When you work on a show like Corrie, you spend so much time developing a character, but then you wonder if there is anything else out there. There was when I first left, but Sunita still wasn't dead - she went in a taxi, so that meant I could come back."
This time around, the door isn't being left open for you. Are you nervous about not having the option to come back?
"I think I've reached the point in my life where I don't want to come back. That's not a terrible thing to say at all, because I've loved every minute of my time at Corrie.
"But time just passes on this job - I can't begin to tell you how much time passes. It feels like I've only just come back, but now I'm going! That's how quickly time passes."
You've just joined Loose Women, but are there any other projects you're looking to do?
"Well, myself and my writing colleague Tracy Dell have just written the first episode of a six-part sitcom. We've actually written it from start to finish, and now it's ready for actors to play it. The people who we have in mind are actually coming over to my house as it's ready to read.
"The show is set in Urmston and it's about two friends. I'm the antagonist, but that's all I can say about that! Myself and Tracy have set up our own production company, called Separated At Birth Productions. Interestingly, we're complete opposites but we have the same sense of humour. Funnily enough, I met her having a colonic - she's a colonic therapist!"
Do you think your son will be pleased to have you around a bit more?
"Well, my son is 18 now so having me around is probably not what he wants, is it?! He finishes college this year so he's busy auditioning for drama school, as he's an actor as well. I didn't think he'd be very interested in acting, but all of a sudden, it came on.
"It's known that I'm a single parent and he's been everywhere with me. I was even in a show when I was pregnant with him, dancing and acting in it."
How have you found filming Sunita's exit scenes?
"It's been quite tough filming all these scenes. I know that I went off screen for a while, but I've since had about eight weeks of quite intense filming for Sunita's exit storyline. Because of that, I've not had much time to take stock yet. It does feel odd and it doesn't feel real that I'm actually leaving!
"At one point, my boyfriend texted me to say that he was having a rough day, so I replied with, 'Well, did you die?! Because I died today!'"
Has it been an emotional experience?
"It has been very emotional over the past eight weeks. Tears have been coming quick, because you realise how much you'll miss your colleagues.
"I've known Jimmi Harkishin for a long time, and he recently said to me that he thinks we have an unspoken knowledge of how the other is going to be when we work together. That is very rare and very special, so I'll miss that. We don't socialise outside the show, but when we're together, we know exactly how we'll be. Jimmi said that and I cried.
"Saying goodbye to Jimmi is hard, because he's been the closest person right from the beginning until the end. Although, I know I did Karl and a few others along the way! Sunita at one point was quite the one! I'd even had more men than Tracy Barlow at one point, but then she soon took over!"
Is there anyone you would have liked to work with more?
"I would have liked to work with the older cast members a bit more - people like Malcolm Hebden, Barbara Knox and Eileen Derbyshire. We've had the odd scene every now and again, and those have been really nice. There's something quietly lovely about those scenes, so I would have liked to be involved more in their world somehow."
Who will you stay in touch with?
"Everyone that I'm friendly with, really! Me and Kate Ford are best buddies, so obviously her. I really don't want to give a long list as I'll miss somebody out, so I'll say Kate and Kym [Lomas], who I've shared a dressing room with.
"Kym's actually introduced me to a whole heap of new buddies. My first ever hen party was Kym's, and Kym's sister-in-law Charley Webb is now really close as well."
What are your happiest memories from your time at Corrie?
"What stands out is the camaraderie. For example, when we're on set burning in fires and things like that, it can be quite an awful environment. The sets are full of smoke and fumes, and there isn't much time to film the scenes due to schedules. But we still find time to laugh and that's the best bit about it - you've just got to laugh.
"At one point in the filming for the Rovers fire, it was so hot that my jacket started to steam. I thought to myself, 'Should I call this scene or will someone else do it?' Instead of swearing, I came off set saying, 'Hot! Hot!' Everybody just burst out laughing. It was the most serious situation, but they couldn't help it."
How do you feel about the Corrie bosses burning down The Rovers for your exit?
"I'm very, very pleased to have such a big exit storyline. As I say, it was quite emotional to film, especially when you see The Rovers burning from the inside. Betty's picture goes up in flames, along with lots of other memories. You also have to remember that Sunita was a barmaid, so she had a relationship with the pub."
Can you tell us a bit more about the stunt work you had to do?
"I could have had the stunt lady do most of the work, as she was there every day to do what I didn't want to do. But I thought, 'This is the last time the viewers are going to see me, so they might as well see my face rather than the back of the stunt lady's head!'
"There's a scene where Sunita falls down the stairs of the cellar at the pub. I didn't do that, but I did the last two steps. There's also a moment where I'm standing on the top of the steps, looking into The Rovers when it's all on fire. There's no CGI at all - this is fire. When you watch it, you might be able to tell that I genuinely was terrified.
"There was also so much smoke involved. We were all coughing up smoke. My outfit was fireproofed, but I could smell the smoke afterwards for days."
Will you be watching these episodes?
"Yeah, I'd like to see what the cut is. The director, Tony Prescott, is amazing. Although after we'd done all the stunts, Tony said that it might be too scary for the timeslot! (Laughs.) I really hope they use all the scenes we did!"
Did it make you think of real-life accidents?
"Absolutely. When I came out of filming one day, I came into the car and cried as I just thought how horrific it would be if you were in an accident or a disaster like that. I just thought of every person who's been in that situation.
"Just filming it was horrific due to the heat involved. I could feel the burn on my skin. It was just so hot and the Rapid Fire Cover, who worked on the episodes, had a bucket waiting to cool my body down. I deliberately didn't know what I was letting myself in for."
How have your on-screen children reacted to this storyline?
"I've tried to keep them away from what I look like in the fire, though little Tanisha, who plays Asha, did catch me one day. I had to rush off and tell her that I'd come back. The little boy, Zennon, is like a typical little boy - he hasn't been able to find the right words. But Tanisha was like a proper actress and said, 'Phew, at least I'm not going!'"
Sunita's had a few disasters over the years…
"Flipping heck, they've finally got me! They've been trying for years! Sunita has had the worst time. There was the brain tumour, when Dev fell in love with Sunita. Then Dev fell back in love with Sunita after the incident with Mad Maya in the fire. A few years later, under the rubble after the tram crash, Dev realised he loved Sunita. Now, does he love me? We'll have to wait and see!"
How are things between Sunita and Dev around the time of the Rovers fire?
"There's a point where everything's going okay with our Dev. They're going to be happily ever after, but then there's a question that Dev is inspired to ask Sunita, because Stella has put her oar in. Stella essentially says to Dev, 'Does she love you?'
"Sunita does love Dev as the father of her children, but she's not 'in love' with him. I think she was in love with him in the past, but there's a point where that changed. She was 23, 24 when she joined and she had her children. Then she spent ages bringing them up and dealing with Dev's other children, as he had millions of kids!
"I think Sunita has been finding herself the whole time. She hadn't even discovered her own sexuality. I think she's just discovering herself again as a woman, and she doesn't see in Dev what she saw before.
"When Sunita had the affair with Karl, a lot of women with young children told me, 'Go for it! Has Sunita been reading 50 Shades of Grey?' I think Sunita has! Women can get sex and love confused, and that's what she did with Karl."
What did you make of the reaction to Sunita and Karl's affair?
"There was a blurring of fact and fiction with some of the reactions. I'm glad that I came off Twitter during that time. I was experiencing some very offensive trolling, but now I have a tweet administrator, who actually takes the trolls off so I don't have to see their tweets.
"That experience definitely wasn't water off a duck's back for me. I'm an actor and I'm very sensitive. I'll continue to be that way, because that's the way I want to be. I don't want to be hard, as that's not me."
Which of Sunita's stories were your favourites?
"I liked falling in love with Dev in the Corner Shop. I thought that was cute and it wasn't a big story, it just happened. Equally, I enjoyed the stuff with Ciaran and having two boys fighting over Sunita.
"Mad Maya I didn't enjoy too much, because I spent a lot of time bound, gagged and chained to a cooker with the gas on!"
Is there a part of you that's hoping to be less high-profile after Corrie?
"I might get some private life back, but I don't think Corrie ever leaves you. Although this time, they can't come up and say, 'Don't worry, they'll have you back!' or 'When are you coming back?' I may come back as Sunita's twin, as twins run in the family!"
Have you taken any mementoes with you?
"I've stolen a lot of things over the years! I once took Sunita's candlesticks, because they were orange and matched my front room. I've had a little drawer cabinet that was in her flat at one point. I've also got the thing that Mad Maya was going to hit me over the head with!"
Does this feel like a new chapter for you?
"Definitely. I think you have those different chapters in life. Sunita has been there for 12 years and it's a long time for a character. Now it's time to try something new."
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed that her character Sunita Alahan doesn't die directly in the Rovers Return fire.
Speaking during her debut as a panellist on Loose Women today (March 13), the actress confirmed that Sunita passes away as a result of the tragedy in later episodes.
"I'm not burned to a cinder in the fire, completely. I die as a consequence of the fire. But I can't tell you how I die," Gulati said.
She quipped: "It's a bit like Die Hard 3. [Sunita] starts in one part of the Rovers and manages to tackle that, then she gets to another part and she manages to tackle that bit.
"Then she is just in the Rovers itself and everything is going up, including Betty's picture. Everything's burning up."
Gulati also joked that she could be married to Jimmi Harkishin (Dev Alahan) in real life since the priest used real vows while filming their on-screen wedding.
The soap star, who announced her departure from Corrie last year, recently said that being on the show had made her a recluse, admitting that she suffered from depression.
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed that her character Sunita Alahan doesn't die directly in the Rovers Return fire.
Speaking during her debut as a panellist on Loose Women today (March 13), the actress confirmed that Sunita passes away as a result of the tragedy in later episodes.
"I'm not burned to a cinder in the fire, completely. I die as a consequence of the fire. But I can't tell you how I die," Gulati said.
She quipped: "It's a bit like Die Hard 3. [Sunita] starts in one part of the Rovers and manages to tackle that, then she gets to another part and she manages to tackle that bit.
"Then she is just in the Rovers itself and everything is going up, including Betty's picture. Everything's burning up."
Gulati also joked that she could be married to Jimmi Harkishin (Dev Alahan) in real life since the priest used real vows while filming their on-screen wedding.
The soap star, who announced her departure from Corrie last year, recently said that being on the show had made her a recluse, admitting that she suffered from depression.
tammyy2j
14-03-2013, 14:24
Karl finishes her off in the hospital
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed that she would like to act alongside her son in the future.
The 46-year-old filmed her final soap scenes as Sunita Alahan last month, but is expected to remain on screen until April.
Gulati's son Akshay, 18, is also pursuing acting as a career and has recently been busy auditioning for drama schools.
Asked whether she would like to work on a project with him, Gulati replied: "I'd love to! But I've never pushed him - they just do their own thing, don't they? I've always said that whatever path he chooses, I'm there.
"Do I offer him advice? Well, he offers me notes - that's how it works! He says, 'I don't know why you can't learn these lines, because I know them!' He's got a photographic memory."
Gulati added that she would be delighted if Akshay followed in her footsteps by landing a role on Coronation Street one day.
She laughed: "If he did, it'd be brilliant for him. I'd like to see him learn his lines and get up at the crack of dawn!
"He's already been in the show once before, as he was Dev's non-speaking nephew in my wedding. He rode a horse - he was the only one brave enough to get on the horse with Jimmi Harkishin!"
Coronation Street airs dramatic scenes for Sunita on Monday (March 18) as she finds herself trapped in the Rovers Return when it goes up in flames.
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed that she would like to act alongside her son in the future.
The 46-year-old filmed her final soap scenes as Sunita Alahan last month, but is expected to remain on screen until April.
Gulati's son Akshay, 18, is also pursuing acting as a career and has recently been busy auditioning for drama schools.
Asked whether she would like to work on a project with him, Gulati replied: "I'd love to! But I've never pushed him - they just do their own thing, don't they? I've always said that whatever path he chooses, I'm there.
"Do I offer him advice? Well, he offers me notes - that's how it works! He says, 'I don't know why you can't learn these lines, because I know them!' He's got a photographic memory."
Gulati added that she would be delighted if Akshay followed in her footsteps by landing a role on Coronation Street one day.
She laughed: "If he did, it'd be brilliant for him. I'd like to see him learn his lines and get up at the crack of dawn!
"He's already been in the show once before, as he was Dev's non-speaking nephew in my wedding. He rode a horse - he was the only one brave enough to get on the horse with Jimmi Harkishin!"
Coronation Street airs dramatic scenes for Sunita on Monday (March 18) as she finds herself trapped in the Rovers Return when it goes up in flames.
Corrie star Shobna Gulati was given a fireman's lift live on air on Loose Women today (March 19).
The actress was carried into the studio and onto her seat after viewers saw her Weatherfield character Sunita Alahan trapped in the Rovers Return blaze last night.
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© Rex Features
Shobna Gulati gets a fireman's lift
As audience members cheered the shirtless 'firefighter', Gulati quipped: "Blimey, that was hot! I feel all hot and bothered now!"
She added: "I have to make it clear, I might be here, but Sunita is still in The Rovers!"
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© Rex Features
Shobna is lifted into her seat
Gulati joined the Loose Women panel earlier this month after filming her final Coronation Street scenes.
Viewers will see rescue crews rush to save Sunita in tomorrow night's episode, while her exit will air on screen in early April.
Former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed that she helped with the planning of Sunita Alahan's funeral.
The actress's alter ego gets an on-screen send-off this Friday (April 12) as friends and family gather to pay their last respects to Sunita following her untimely death.
Speaking on This Morning today (April 8), Gulati explained that she helped the show's team as they put together a traditional Hindu funeral for Sunita.
Gulati laughed: "I know it sounds bizarre, but it's just that I knew where to get the stuff from! You know, the outfits that Dev and the children are wearing, and the ritual things that you need for a funeral like that."
Sunita's final scenes aired last Wednesday (April 3) as she dramatically lost her fight for life following a visit from sinister Karl Munro in hospital.
The mum-of-two had been left seriously injured after being caught up in the Rovers Return fire, which was started by Karl.
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© ITV
Sunita's funeral day in Coronation Street
In real life, Gulati bowed out from Coronation Street to pursue other projects, and is hoping to juggle acting and writing work alongside her new role as a panellist on ITV's Loose Women.
She said today: "I'm going to be 47 this year and that really made me think. I think it's time to make some new characters. I would like not to be Sunita anymore.
"I'm an actor, aren't I? I've played many parts on the stage and I've played a couple on the TV. I just want to see what else is out there for me. A bit more comedy would be lovely."
walsh2509
09-04-2013, 00:54
Keystone cops , what about the injuries to her head ? err we don't know how they happened .. dear lord .. she might have pulled out the ventilator herself - so you checked for finger prints on the tube to rule that out or in .. err No !
This looks like another drawnout storyline, I just hope that when Karl gets his comeuppance it isn't another two minute, flawed wonder, as happened with Kirsty. We should get better endings ,have to wait long enough.
Coronation Street's Dev Alahan has an epiphany next week as he realises that his late partner Sunita couldn't have been responsible for the Rovers Return fire.
Although Dev has no firm proof of Sunita's innocence, he starts to reconsider the situation and struggles to accept that she was capable of causing such destruction.
When Dev demands that the police reopen their investigation into the blaze, the real culprit Karl Munro (John Michie) is left in a panic. Can a rattled Karl convince Dev to let go of his new theory?
Here, Jimmi Harkishin - who plays Dev - reveals what's in store as his character begins to play detective.
How is Dev coping in the wake of Sunita's death?
"Dev is completely devastated. When you start to explore stories like this, you start to realise how awful it must be to lose someone you love in a fire. It's not a natural cause, and in this case it's not even an accident. At first Dev is completely numb and overwhelmed by grief. He is barely coping.
"It's heightened by the fact that there are children involved. Dev is a very moral man. His compass is definitely on track, and since he met Sunita, he's been so devoted to her and their family. He was willing to give up so much for her if only she could tell him she loved him, and she couldn't do it. I think that's on his mind, too."
Why does Dev have absolute faith in Sunita's innocence over the fire?
"The whole way through, Dev has had nagging doubts that Sunita just couldn't have done this, and I think that's amplified by his knowledge of what kind of character she is, or was. It just doesn't make sense to him.
"No matter how much Sunita has hurt him emotionally, he still knows in his heart of hearts what a gentle person she was and that just doesn't marry with the accusation that she started the fire."
Why is clearing Sunita's name so important to Dev?
"The kids are being bullied at school. They live in a very small community and other children are calling their mum a murderer and an arsonist. What is Dev supposed to say to them? He has to clear her name so that his children don't have to live with the thought that their mother may have caused this damage."
Is that why Dev demands that the case should be reopened?
"Yes. He goes to the school because Asha and Aadi are being bullied, and when he sees them he asks them outright - do they believe their mother really did this? So he's put the question out there - it's a brutal and bare moment for Dev.
"At that point, Dev has a sort of epiphany, a moment of complete disbelief that Sunita had the capacity to cause all of this. So when he starts to tell people in the pub that he wants the case to be reopened, he's not being bombastic about it. He declares her innocence and presents the evidence to everyone who's there, including Karl. Dev just has an unshakeable faith in Sunita and that isn't going to go away."
Does Dev spot Karl's concern over this?
"No, because by this point, Dev is convinced that Karl has become a friend. Karl has got this bomb-proof alibi for the night of the Rovers fire, and of course he's being seen as the hero of the street for going in and saving Stella. As an actor it's quite difficult because I know the truth, but Dev doesn't!"
All of the evidence is still pointing towards Sunita. Can Dev see why she remains the main suspect?
"I don't think Dev is being naive about it - he knows that there is no hard evidence that says Sunita didn't do it. But to Dev there are still so many unanswered questions.
"The police almost assumed that it must have been Sunita and as she isn't here anymore, the case was closed. But Dev can't shake these questions that he has. It's almost as if the conclusion that has been reached by the police is a convenient answer for them, and that's what Dev hates."
Karl starts telling people that he's worried about Dev's mental state, doesn't he?
"Yes, though I think most people are worried for Dev's mental state! Quite rightly as well. Dev is totally fractured and his behaviour is obsessive and slightly erratic. But the obsession he has for finding the truth comes from severe stress.
"You'll see that Dev goes over and over the same points and the same questions, and in doing so, he alienates a lot of people. It's like he's got a bone that he just can't let go of."
Does Dev get annoyed when people think he needs to drop it?
"Well he knows that that's going on and that these things are being said to him and about him, but he just cannot be told. He's not aggressive about it, that's just the way it is for him. He has to keep going over it because he can't help himself!"
Do you think knowing the truth about Karl would help Dev get closure?
"Ultimately you never know until it's written. I just don't know at this stage what that knowledge would do to him…"
How does having Mary around affect things for Dev?
"The pairing of Dev and Mary may not look like a natural one, but it's actually an incredible relationship that really works. Dev also has Sophie, but she's almost like a daughter figure to him and is a cross-over between Dev and the children.
"But the story with Mary is so courtly and well-considered. I love that she brings structure and good intent to Dev's household."
Is Dev becoming suspicious of people on the street?
"Yes, definitely. The only person he truly listens to is Mary. She doesn't try and fob him off and he doesn't find any cynicism in her demeanour."
What has it been like to film such emotional scenes?
"Dev's been through it. His shop blew up. His wife left him for someone else, his kids were taken into care at one point. So he knows he has to pick himself up again. It's not been easy and putting myself in his shoes hasn't been enjoyable at times, but it's been challenging and I've been trying to roll with it and let it come naturally."
How have your on-screen kids Zennon and Tanisha (Aadi and Asha) been to work with?
"They are wonderful and it's been fantastic to see them develop and grow around me. They are starting to get comfortable in their skin and I get the best of them when they are here. They have had to do some really challenging stuff and have had to learn discipline."
https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a44635156/coronation-street-spoilers-sunita-ghostly-return/
Coronation Street has hinted at a ghostly return for Sunita Alahan, a decade after her death.
The character, played by Shobna Gulati, was the former wife of Dev and mother to Aadi and Asha, and was a mainstay of the soap between 2001 and 2006.
She returned again in 2009 before being killed off in 2013 after sustaining injuries in a Rovers Return fire, with ex-lover Karl Munro removing her breathing tube in hospital.
In new scenes set to air on the soap, the Alahans hold a memorial dinner for Sunita, which Bernie and Paul attend.
During the memorial, they take a photo, and Asha notices a bubble of light floating above her in the picture, which Bernie suggests could be a human spirit. However, Dev quickly shuts down her superstitions.
Later on in the week, Aadi discovers that the picture of him and Asha has moved to face the picture of their late mother, which Bernie again suggests could be the presence of Sunita's spirit ? though Dev refuses to entertain the idea.
However, Bernie tells Paul about her theory over Sunita's restless spirit, which leaves Dev in despair. He then demands to know what Bernie is hoping to gain with her supernatural nonsense.
In other Alahan family news, Aadi is currently at the centre of an affair storyline with newcomer Courtney Vance, and star Adam Hussain recently spoke about the potential consequences of it being exposed.
"I think Aadi is certainly aware of the consequences of the affair," he told Digital Spy and other press. "He tries his best to resist the temptations of Courtney's advances, but he always falls short.
"Aadi falling for Courtney is not good, because if the fling is exposed, Dev could be financially ruined and Aadi's career prospects could be tarnished as well. Being with an older woman would be any other teen boy's fantasy. But again, when a connection develops over time, it makes it even harder for Aadi to call off this fling."
https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a64243035/coronation-street-shobna-gulati-non-binary-journey/
Former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has shared their non-binary journey.
The star, who played Sunita Alahan on the ITV soap between 2001 and 2013, opened up about their identity in a new podcast chat, recalling how a conversation with a non-binary colleague changed things.
"I?ve become more happy describing myself as a person," Shobna told Kaye Adams's How to be 60 podcast (via The Mirror).
"What do people call it now? Non-binary. So, I suppose that?s who I am. I?ve never had a word for it, but I?ve learnt from our younger generation what that might look like in terms of a word, because I know what it feels like in terms of being me."
The star, who lists their pronouns as she/they on Instagram, said that they have "never managed to explain that" and their immediate family "have not really thought about it".
Explaining how a conversation with a sound engineer helped them to realise, Shobna recalled: "The sound person said to me that they were non-binary and I said, 'What is that?? So, then they explained and I thought, ?Well, I feel like that, but I didn?t ever have that vocabulary.?
The star said they now feel "free to say it out loud" and that people have accepted them for who they are for a while "without any explanation", adding: "But I suppose when I?m asked now, I?ll say it."
Shobna also spoke about feeling pressure to be feminine growing up, revealing: "My father would say things like, ?Oh you haven?t dressed up today,? or ?You haven?t washed your hair,? or ?Your hair looks limp, you can?t go out like that.? I?d say, ?Why not??
"He?d make comments along the way ? I walk like a boy. Lots of people tell me I walk like a boy and I do. I just don?t know quite where it all comes from, it?s just who I am and I?m happy in that now."
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