Sunita Parekh Alahan to return

[alan45]

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."

[Glen1]

"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

[alan45]

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

[Perdita]

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.

[alan45]

"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

Oh errr missus

[Perdita]

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.

[alan45]

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).


© ITV


© 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]

I'm finding Sunita terribly annoying I even feel sorry for dupey Dev

[Dazzle]

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.

[Perdita]

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."