Former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has revealed they identify as non-binary, explaining that they had never previously had the vocabulary to describe their identity.
Gulati, 58, who played Sunita Alahan on the long-running soap from 2001 to 2013, opened up about their gender identity on the How To Be 60 With Kaye Adams podcast. They shared that they first learned about the term “non-binary” while working on a production with a younger colleague.
“I was just doing a show, and then the sound person said to me that they were non-binary, and I said, ‘Oh, what is that?'” Gulati recalled. “So they explained, and I thought, ‘Well, I feel like that,’ but I didn’t ever have that vocabulary.”
Gulati explained that the concept immediately resonated with them. “They said that they saw themselves as a person and that gender—he or she—wasn’t important to who they are. And I thought, ‘That’s all I’ve ever thought.’”
Reflecting on their journey, the actor shared that those close to them had likely understood their identity for some time, even without a formal label. “I think now I’m free to say it out loud. People who have been around me have accepted who I am for a long time without any explanation. But I suppose when I’m asked now, I’ll say it.”
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Gulati has had a long and varied career in British television and theatre. In addition to Coronation Street, they have appeared in Doctor Who, Vera, Doctors, and the classic sitcom dinnerladies.
They also starred in the stage and film adaptations of the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, playing the role of Ray in the theatre production and Jay in the 2021 movie.
In addition to talking about their gender identity, Shobna Gulati also spoke up about their current relationship and the possibility of dating again in the future, stating that if they were to date again, they would be open to dating all genders. “I would go for a person absolutely, regardless of their gender,” they said.
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