Pepsi Uma
Pepsi Uma | |
|---|---|
| Born | Uma Maheswari |
| Occupation | Video jockey |
| Years active | 1992–2013 |
| Spouse | Sukesh |
Uma Maheswari,[1] better known as Pepsi Uma, is an Indian video jockey known for her work in Tamil-language television. She was referred to as Tamil Nadu's Cyrus Broacha by India Today.[2] She was noted for her "mellifluous voice and flawless diction".[3]
Career
[edit]Uma worked as a video jockey since she was eleven years old.[4] In 1994, she hosted Ungal Choice, a weekly phone-in show sponsored by Pepsi on Sun TV.[2][5] In 2000, the show was Sun TV's longest show with three-hundred and twenty-five episodes.[2] She subsequently earned the name Pepsi Uma.[5][4][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.[2] 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),[4] Subhash Ghai for a film with Shah Rukh Khan, K. Balachander and Bharathiraja but did not accept them due to lack of interest.[3][4] She also decided against doing an ad with Sachin Tendulkar due to the costumes.[3] Unlike other video jockeys, Uma preferred wearing saris in all her shows.[9]
Personal life
[edit]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.[4] As of 2009, she manages her family business Krypton Engineering and a production company.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Jaya TV producer arrested". The Hindu. 23 June 2013. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Vetticad, Anna M.M. (16 October 2000). "Eyecatchers". India Today. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Kannan, Uma (3 December 2009). "The fizzy Uma". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e V, Aarthi (20 December 2023). "Pepsi Uma: பரிசாக வந்த வெட்டப்பட்ட சிறிய விரல்..பெப்சி உமாவை அதிர வைத்த சம்பவம்!" [Pepsi Uma: The cut little finger that came as a gift.. The incident that shocked Pepsi Uma!]. Hindustan Times (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Rangarajan, Malathi (12 June 2004). "A trendsetter, but..." The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 November 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "அடடே... மீண்டும் இவரா?" [Huh... Him again?]. Dina Thanthi (in Tamil). 12 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "என் கண்ணு உங்க மேலதான் போகுது.. ரஜினி குறித்து பெப்சி உமா சொன்ன ஷாக் தகவல்" [My eyes are on you.. Pepsi Uma reveals shocking news about Rajinikanth]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 4 January 2024. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Rangarajan, Malathi (30 May 2013). "The fizz is intact". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Pepsi Uma quits Kalaignar TV – Why ?". eXtra Mirchi. 26 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "Pepsi Uma harassed by a TV executive ..." Behindwoods.com. 23 June 2013. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "TV channel executive held for harassing VJ". The Times of India. 23 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
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