Pepsi Uma
Indian video jockey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uma Maheswari,[1] better known as Pepsi Uma, is an Indian video jockey known for her work in Tamil-language television. She was noted for her "mellifluous voice and flawless diction".[2]
Pepsi Uma | |
|---|---|
| Born | Uma Maheswari |
| Occupation | Video jockey |
| Years active | 1992–2013 |
| Spouse | Sukesh |
Career
Uma worked as a video jockey since she was eleven years old.[3] In 1994, she hosted Ungal Choice, a weekly phone-in show sponsored by Pepsi on Sun TV.[4][5] In 2000, the show was Sun TV's longest show with three-hundred and twenty-five episodes.[4] She subsequently earned the name Pepsi Uma.[5][3][6][7] She simultaneously hosted Star Show in which she and Gangai Amaran discussed an issue every week with people from the Tamil film industry including Trisha and Srikanth.[8][5] In a poll taken in 2000, she was voten the best anchor of Tamil Nadu.[4] She later switched to Kalaignar TV and left in March 2008.[9]
In 2013, Uma hosted an hour show on Jaya TV titled Album.[8] During her work as a video jockey, she received several film offers from Rajinikanth (two films including Muthu),[3] Subhash Ghai for a film with Shah Rukh Khan, K. Balachander and Bharathiraja but did not accept them due to lack of interest.[2][3] She also decided against doing an ad with Sachin Tendulkar due to the costumes.[2] Unlike other video jockeys, Uma preferred wearing saris in all her shows.[9]
Personal life
Uma is married to Sukesh, a Punjabi man she met while shooting for an advertisement.[8] During her tenure with Jaya TV, she was harassed by a senior producer named Saravanaraj, who was later arrested.[1][10][11] Her fans wanted to build a temple for her in Kumily.[8] A distraught fan sent her a mail containing part of his cut pinky which shocked Uma.[3] As of 2009, she manages her family business Krypton Engineering and a production company.[2]
