ARY Digital’s much-anticipated drama Main Manto Nahi Hoon, starring Humayun Saeed and Sajal Aly, is facing heavy backlash from viewers. The controversy stems from the show’s suggested romance between Mehmal (Sajal Aly), a university student, and her professor Manto (Humayun Saeed).
The drama revolves around Mehmal, a young woman from an oppressive household who defies her father to pursue higher education. At university, she meets Manto, a quiet economics professor who shares his name with the legendary writer Saadat Hasan Manto. While the relationship has not been shown explicitly, multiple scenes hint at a growing romantic connection between the two characters.
In one episode, Mehmal’s aunt teases her about constantly talking about her professor, while another depicts Manto holding her hand to protect her from her cousin Farhaad (Azaan Sami Khan). These interactions have fueled speculation about a possible student-teacher love angle, leaving fans outraged.
Social media users have strongly condemned the storyline. One Instagram user wrote, “I don’t understand how A-listers agree to doing scripts like this. Do you people not read before signing?” Another YouTube comment criticized the age gap and inappropriate dynamic, saying, “Even though Manto is a great character, I can’t shake the weird feeling of a student falling for her professor. Teachers are meant to be respected, not romanticized.”
Many viewers argued that such portrayals disrespect the sanctity of student-teacher relationships. “Students have their own dignity, and teachers are like spiritual parents. Normalizing this sends a damaging message,” one user commented.
Despite its cinematic production value, strong performances, and a star-studded cast including Sanam Saeed, Saba Hamid, Saba Faisal, Saima Noor, Asif Raza Mir, and Azaan Sami Khan, fans believe the controversial script overshadows the drama’s quality.
Written by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar and directed by Nadeem Baig, Main Manto Nahi Hoon is produced under Six Sigma Plus and Next Level Entertainment. However, audiences remain divided, with many calling for a rethink of storylines that risk glamorizing problematic relationships.