Sajal Aly is facing strong criticism online, not just for a line her character says in Main Manto Nahi Hoon but also for reposting a fan story that mocked another male co-star. 

 

Despite featuring a high-profile cast and airing in a prime-time slot on a national channel, the show is under fire for promoting body-shaming and toxic humour.

 

The backlash began after a controversial scene in a recent episode. Humayun Saeed, who plays Professor Manto, is interrupted during a lecture by Mehmal, played by Sajal Aly. She asks, “Are you married,” a question viewers felt was unprofessional in a classroom setting.

 

When Manto avoids answering the question, Mehmal jokes, “You look like someone who’s married with two kids and a fat wife.” He looks visibly uncomfortable and asks why she would say that. She replies, “The lack of motivation on your face means your wife must be fat.”

 

While the class laughed, the audience did not.

 

Online, viewers were quick to condemn the scene. Many called it outdated, offensive, and damaging. “Pretty girls get away with anything. If this was me, I’d be charged with harassment and body shaming,” wrote one user. 

 

Another commented, “Sajal is equally responsible. She’s a big name now. She shouldn’t have agreed to deliver those lines.”

 

Others raised concerns about the unhealthy portrayal of a student-teacher relationship. One viewer posted, “Romanticising this dynamic is dangerous, especially when we hear of real-life abuse and harassment in academic settings.”

 

But things escalated further when Sajal Aly reposted a fan’s Instagram story that took a dig at another male co-star. The caption read, “When you give an ugly guy a chance and he starts roasting you.”

 

 

In response, a user criticised, “To all those surprised by her role — this is PTV’s favourite: fat-shaming in the drama, face-shaming on Insta stories.”

 

Another comment read, “This isn’t funny or sarcasm. People have become too comfortable calling others ugly. Imagine being that actor, excited to share the screen with Sajal Aly, only to have her repost a reel calling him ugly to millions.”

 

Others pointed out the irony that Sajal Aly is often celebrated for portraying “strong female characters.” One disappointed fan wrote, “Seeing THE Sajal Aly say such poor-quality lines shows how broken the industry is in terms of writing.”

 

Writer Khalilur Rehman Qamar, known for his misogynistic views on gender and women, is also being criticised for scripting the offensive dialogue.