Popular drama serial Main Manto Nahi Hoon has come under fire for portraying a romantic angle between a teacher and his student. Amid widespread criticism on social media, especially concerning the significant age gap between the characters Manto and Mehmal, lead actor Humayun Saeed has broken silence and defended the storyline.
Saeed, during a recent interview alongside co-star Azaan Sami Khan, said that such relationships do occur in real life and should not be dismissed simply because they are uncomfortable to watch.
“Students often end up marrying their teachers in real life,” Saeed said in conversation with journalist Maliha Rehman, adding that people are judging the story even before it is fully unfolded.
He explained that Mehmal comes from an abusive household filled with constant conflict, and her attraction to her teacher stems from the calm and caring demeanor he offers – someone who even cooks for himself. “It’s not love at first sight… it’s admiration… a sense of emotional safety,” he added.
According to Saeed, the drama could have shown the romantic development much earlier but chose to hold back. “So far, it’s just a crush from Mehmal’s side,” he said and clarified that the teacher “only sees her only as a bright student”.
Despite the controversy, Main Manto Nahi Hoon continues to garner high viewership and social media traction, sparking debates around storytelling, boundaries and realism in modern Pakistani dramas.
Alongside Humayun, Azaan Sami Khan and Sajjal Ali, the cast of the drama includes Saima, Asif Raza Mir, Saba Faisal, Saba Hameed, Babar Ali and Sanam Saeed.