Former Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati appeared on ITV’s Lorraine this morning, discussing the release of her new book, Remember Me.
Shobna revealed she wrote the book, which details her mother’s heartbreaking dementia battle, while she was suffering from coronavirus.
The 54-year-old actress, who played Sunita Alahan on the ITV soap only to leave the role in 2013, admitted she is still suffering symptoms of the virus.
When host Lorraine Kelly asked how she was doing, she said: “I’m doing a lot better, it has been a very tough time.”
Though Shobna first contracted Covid in March, she continues to suffer exhaustion, as the virus left its mark.
She said: “My whole body decided to give up.”
Adding she is “still feeling the effects of it,” Shobna revealed: “I get terribly, terribly tired.”
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati appeared on Lorraine today
At the time, Shona’s book offered a welcome distraction from her symptoms, as she put pen to paper to overcome the virus.
She said: “The book gave me a huge focus.”
The book follows the conversations Shobna experienced with her mum as her dementia took hold, and she shared memories of her life with her daughter.
Reflecting on the motivation behind writing the book, Shobna said: “I hope in some ways it breaks down some of the stigmas and taboos that surround his disease.”
Shobna’s onscreen daughter Asha was named after her mum (Image: ITV)
The actress also revealed the memory of her late mum lives on in Coronation Street, after Shobna named a character after her.
Her onscreen daughter, Asha Alahan, played by Tanisha Gorey, shares the same name as her beloved mum, as a tribute to her love of the soap.
Shobna said: “I was lucky enough to be gifted the opportunity to name my twins by Coronation Street.
“Since mum was such an avid fan and she had been watching Coronation Street for the past 60 years, she was really pleased.”
Shobna described the emotional journey behind her memoir, Remember Me (Image: ITV)
Even at the height of her mum’s dementia battle, she recognised her name on the soap, as Shobna added: “I didn’t know it was going to help in such a way that it did.”
Remember Me? Discovering My Mother as She Lost Her Memory goes on sale on Thursday, September 17.
Lorraine airs on weekdays at 9am on ITV.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
