"this is just disappointing.”
A scene in Main Manto Nahi Hoon has stirred outrage, adding to growing discontent with Pakistani television’s display of women.
In a university classroom, Manto (Humayun Saeed) is teaching a class on the theory of motivation.
The flirtatious Mehmal (Sajal Aly) interrupts and asks whether he is married.
When Manto ignores her question, Mehmal jokes that she assumed he must be married “with a bunch of kids and a fat wife”.
Visibly uncomfortable, he asks her how she assumes he would have a fat wife.
Doubling down, she replies: “The lack of motivation on your face means your wife must be fat.”
Her response results in laughter from her classmates.
Though the show presented it as humour, many viewers found the dialogue degrading, especially toward women’s bodies.
Critics argue that the body-shaming in this episode was directed not at a character, but at a woman who doesn’t exist.
In a country already grappling with unrealistic beauty standards, airing such content adds to the burden faced by women.
Fans took to social media to question how such dialogues passed through the script approval process.
Many were disappointed that Sajal, often praised for portraying strong women, would deliver such a line without protest.
One fan commented: “She has been careful with her roles before, but this is just disappointing.”
This scene is absurd. In a classroom setting, students laughing at a professor while one proudly throws such so-called “jokes” is completely disrespectful.
I admire Humayun and Sajal, but this was not funny.#meinmantonahihoon #sajalaly #humayunsaeed pic.twitter.com/wJIk2IyXUZ
— Gulnaz Ayaz (@Gulnazayaz_) July 27, 2025
However, others said the bigger issue lies with the scriptwriter Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar, long known for his controversial views.
Khalil’s previous work has repeatedly faced criticism for portraying women in problematic ways or using misogynistic undertones.
Even Humayun Saeed wasn’t spared, with viewers accusing him of enabling regressive narratives through his ongoing collaborations.
Beyond the body-shaming, the drama is also facing backlash for romanticising a student-teacher dynamic, despite growing awareness of harassment cases.
Critics argued that portraying inappropriate advances in educational settings normalises harmful behaviour that already exists in real-life classrooms.
Adding fuel to the fire, Sajal was also accused of “face shaming” after reposting a fan reel mocking a co-star’s looks.
A user commented:
“Imagine being this guy, excited to share the screen with Sajal Aly, only for her to repost a reel calling him ugly.”
While Main Manto Nahi Hoon may not face immediate consequences, the backlash shows audiences are no longer tolerating outdated tropes.
Viewers are increasingly demanding scripts that respect women and reflect real, responsible storytelling.
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