Fat-Shaming in ‘Main Manto Nahi Hoon’ Triggers Backlash

One of the most talked-about dramas of the season, Main Manto Nahi Hoon, is making headlines not for its storytelling, but for its tasteless fat-shaming joke that aired in its latest episode. Despite boasting an A-list cast, a coveted prime-time slot, and the backing of a major television network, the show has come under fire for pushing outdated, body-shaming humour that feels more regressive than entertaining.

In the controversial scene, Humayun Saeed’s character, a university professor, is interrupted during a lecture by Sajal Aly’s character, Mehmal, with an inappropriate question about his marital status. When he dodges the inquiry, Mehmal cracks a joke, assuming he must have a “fat wife” due to the lack of “motivation” on his face. The class laughs. The writers call it a punchline. But for many viewers, it was a gut punch to progress.

Social media exploded with criticism, pointing out how body-shaming and face-shaming are still being normalized on mainstream platforms, and by actors once admired for making thoughtful role choices. The backlash has targeted not just the dialogue, but the wider culture of tone-deaf, misogynistic writing that continues to plague Pakistani television.

Writer Khalilur Rehman Qamar, known for his controversial takes, is once again at the center of this debate. While some defend the show as “just fiction,” others argue that in a society already struggling with toxic beauty ideals, normalizing such dialogues is nothing short of irresponsible.

Audiences are no longer passive. They’re demanding change, calling for accountability, and asking the industry’s most influential figures to do better.

Read more: “Main Manto Nahi Hoon” Teaser Drops: Viewers Torn Between Hype and Hesitation