Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati has shared that they now identify as non-binary.
The performer, known for portraying Sunita Alahan on the soap for 12 years, expressed that this realization had been a lifelong feeling, only recently finding a term to define it. They disclosed being currently in a relationship but open to dating individuals of any gender in the future. “I’ve found more comfort in defining myself as an individual. What’s the term now? Non-binary. So, that’s who I am,” Shobna mentioned. “I never had a label for it, but I’ve grasped from our younger generation what that label might signify, because I understand the feeling of being myself.”
A non-binary individual is someone who does not exclusively identify as male or female. Their gender may be perceived as fluid, or they may identify as both genders or neither. On Instagram, Shobna indicates their preferred pronouns as ‘she/they’.
During a conversation with Kaye Adams on her How to be 60 podcast, Shobna, aged 58, explained, “Throughout my life, I lacked the vocabulary to express this, and I suppose my immediate family hadn’t really pondered it.” They added, “They simply saw me as either very feminine or very masculine. Because I was simply accepted as a person who could be both and equally the person who would dress up and perform a dance.”
Shobna reflected on a pivotal moment when they conversed with a sound engineer during a joint project. “The sound engineer disclosed being non-binary and I asked, ‘what does that mean?’ They elaborated, and I thought – ‘well, that resonates with me, but I never had those words.'” Shobna continued, “They viewed themselves as a person, where the gender – whether it’s he or she – wasn’t crucial to their identity. And I thought: ‘that’s precisely how I’ve always felt.'”
The Lancashire-born actor, who gained fame as Sunita on Coronation Street, shared their struggles with conforming to feminine standards while growing up. They recounted, “My father would comment on my appearance, like ‘you’re not dressed up today,’ or ‘your hair looks flat, you can’t go out like that.’ I’d ask: ‘why not?'”
Shobna’s journey post-Coronation Street has been marked by varied experiences, including relationships that were under public scrutiny. They remarked, “I had relationships, but they were very public. It was challenging for me because I felt there wasn’t enough time for relationships, to have more children, and to enjoy privacy due to the intense public exposure.”
The actress, who previously dated Emmerdale actor Gary Turner, expressed, “I didn’t have more children. I didn’t get that chance, which sometimes leaves me feeling regretful.” Shobna disclosed being in a current relationship and remarked about future prospects, stating, “I’m exploring what that means to me. So yes, I would be interested in a person irrespective of their gender.”
Shobna reflected on embracing their natural grey hair, a decision that influenced their career positively but led to backlash from a former partner critical of the choice. “Men were quite vehemently against my grey hair,” Shobna shared. “I was dating someone who remarked, ‘your sister looks younger because she has dark hair.’ I ended it promptly because I realized his views on aging diminished my value as a woman.”
The actress highlighted the mixed reactions from family members regarding the hair transformation. “The older generation in my family, who typically dyed their hair, questioned why I stopped. They were mainly women saying, ‘you’ll look older,'” Shobna stated. “For me, aging is about acceptance and authenticity, not just aesthetics.”
Looking ahead to turning 60 in two years, Shobna expressed optimism for a phase of personal growth and self-acceptance. “I anticipate a new chapter where there’s peace from the noise of my past. It’s a fresh start. I want to embrace my true self fully,” Shobna shared on the How to be 60 podcast.