Shobna Gulati – Age, Net Worth, Career, and Personal Life in 2025

For over a decade, Shobna Gulati was a fixture on British television screens as Sunita Alahan on Coronation Street. But the actor, presenter, and writer is far more than one iconic role. From her early days in Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies to her recent stage work and outspoken advocacy, Gulati has built a diverse career in the cultural industries.

Born in Oldham to an Indian father who arrived from Bombay in 1960, Gulati has navigated a life in the public eye while carefully managing her personal boundaries. Now in her late 50s, she continues to work across stage and screen, all while championing causes close to her heart. This article provides a clear, fact-based look at her age, career, personal life, and current projects.

Who Is Shobna Gulati? Age, Ethnicity, and Background

• Shobna Gulati is an English actor best known for playing Sunita Alahan on Coronation Street from 2001 to 2013, with a return in 2017.
• She was appointed an MBE in the 2024 Birthday Honours for services to cultural industries.
• She studied Arabic and Middle Eastern politics at the University of Manchester.
• Gulati publicly identifies as non-binary, as confirmed in 2024/25.
• Her net worth is not publicly disclosed in any reliable source.
• She lives in London and is currently single, though she has stated she is “in love.”
• She is a single mother to her son Akshay, born in 1994.

Shobna Gulati’s Age and Birth Date

Shobna Gulati was born on 7 August 1966, making her 59 years old as of 2025. She is a native of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England, where she was raised in a Hindu household after her father, K.A. Gulati, emigrated from Bombay in 1960.

Shobna Gulati’s Ethnicity and Heritage

Gulati is of Indian ethnicity, specifically British Asian. Her father’s roots are in Bombay, India. She has spoken in interviews about her cultural upbringing, including the pressures she faced from her community when she became a single mother. For more on British Asian representation in television, explore related stories across our site.

Shobna Gulati’s Religious Beliefs

Gulati was raised in the Hindu faith. She married her first husband, architect Anshu Srivastava, in a Hindu ceremony on 10 November 1990. While she does not frequently discuss her current religious practice, her background is rooted in Hindu tradition.

Shobna Gulati’s Career: From Dinnerladies to Coronation Street

Gulati’s career spans stage, television, and film. Her breakthrough came in Victoria Wood’s BBC sitcom dinnerladies, where she played the role of Anita from 1998 to 2000. This role established her as a familiar face in British comedy. For a deeper dive into her early work, see our profile on her early career.

Shobna Gulati’s Role in Coronation Street (Sunita Alahan)

Her most famous role is Sunita Alahan on the long-running ITV soap Coronation Street. She played the character from 2001 to 2013. Sunita was introduced as the girlfriend of Dev Alahan, and the couple later married and had twins, Aadi and Asha, in 2006. Gulati’s performance made Sunita a central figure in some of the soap’s most dramatic storylines. She returned for a guest stint in 2017. Additional details about her time on the Street can be found in this BBC report on her return.

Shobna Gulati’s Net Worth in 2025

Despite her long career in television, stage, and film, Shobna Gulati’s net worth is not publicly available. No reliable source, including official financial records or reputable interview statements, provides a specific figure. Any estimates found online are speculative and unconfirmed. An in-depth Guardian interview from October 2025 covers her life and work but does not touch on her finances.

What Is Shobna Gulati Doing Now?

As of late 2025, Shobna Gulati is actively working in theatre. She is currently starring in a production of The Importance of Being Earnest at the Coward Theatre in London, a run that continues until January 2026. She is also touring The Rise and Fall of the Little Voice alongside her son, Akshay. In addition, she portrayed Ray in the musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in both its UK and US stage productions, as well as the 2021 film adaptation. She also appears as a guest panellist on shows like Loose Women and This Morning. A quick look at her Instagram feed shows her current projects and behind-the-scenes moments.

Shobna Gulati’s Personal Life: Partner, Son, and Family

Is Shobna Gulati Married or in a Relationship?

Shobna Gulati is not currently married. She was previously married to architect Anshu Srivastava from 1990 to 1994. She later had a relationship with Emmerdale actor Gary Turner from 1999 to 2003, and a brief relationship with Anthony Brown, who was 17 years her junior, which ended due to the age gap. In a 2024/25 interview with the Mirror, Gulati stated she is currently “in love” but has not named her partner. She also said she is open to dating any gender. Her Wikipedia page documents her relationship history.

Does Shobna Gulati Have a Son?

Yes, Shobna Gulati has a son named Akshay, born on 19 October 1994. She has been a single mother since his birth, and has spoken openly about the criticism she received from her community for having a child outside of marriage. Akshay is now an actor and often tours with his mother. He joined her in the stage production of The Rise and Fall of the Little Voice.

A Timeline of Shobna Gulati’s Life and Career

1. 7 August 1966 – Born in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.
2. 1980s – Studied Arabic and Middle Eastern politics at the University of Manchester.
3. 1998–2000 – Played Anita in the BBC sitcom dinnerladies.
4. 2001–2013 – Portrayed Sunita Alahan on Coronation Street.
5. 2017 – Returned to Coronation Street for a guest stint.
6. 2024 – Appointed MBE in the Birthday Honours for services to cultural industries.
7. 2025 – Published a memoir, Discovering My Mother As She Lost Her Memory, and gave an extensive interview to The Guardian.

What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Shobna Gulati

What Is the Broader Context of Shobna Gulati’s Career?

Shobna Gulati’s career reflects a broader trend among British actors of South Asian heritage who broke through in mainstream television in the late 1990s and 2000s. Her role in dinnerladies came at a time when diverse casting in sitcoms was still rare. Beyond acting, she is also a writer and campaigner, particularly around dementia awareness, following her mother’s diagnosis and death in 2019. Her memoir, Discovering My Mother As She Lost Her Memory, tackles this subject directly. Her appointment as MBE in 2024 recognized these contributions to the cultural industries. For further reading on her advocacy, you can check this BBC article on her MBE.

What Do Key Sources Say About Shobna Gulati?

“Shobna Gulati, 59, studied Arabic and Middle Eastern politics at the University of Manchester. She appeared in Dinnerladies before taking a…”

– The Guardian interview (October 2025)

“Shobna Gulati (born 7 August 1966) is an English actor and presenter. Gulati is known for playing Anita in dinnerladies and Sunita Alahan in the soap opera Coronation Street.”

– Wikipedia

What’s Next for Shobna Gulati?

Shobna Gulati continues to act, write, and speak publicly about her experiences. Her memoir, Discovering My Mother As She Lost Her Memory, remains a recent highlight of her career. She is also active on social media, including her verified account on X (Twitter) and on Instagram. With current stage commitments running into 2026, she shows no signs of slowing down. She is likely to take on new acting roles, and her ongoing advocacy work around dementia and cultural representation suggests her public profile will continue to grow. A note from the University of Huddersfield details her honorary doctorate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shobna Gulati