Pakistani actor Atiqah Odho has claimed that several educational institutions in Lahore have banned drama shootings on their campuses following the controversies surrounding the hit drama ‘Main Manto Nahin Hoon’.
The drama, which stars Humayun Saeed as a university professor and Sajal Aly as his student, has been both praised and criticised for its unconventional storyline. The show depicts a romantic relationship between a teacher and his student, and the theme has sparked heated debate across social media and in educational circles.
Speaking on the show Kya Drama Hai, Odho revealed that the backlash over the series had tangible consequences.
“The romantic relationship between a professor and a student in Main Manto Nahin Hoon has started quite a debate in Lahore,” she said. “As a result, many universities have now decided to ban drama shootings on their campuses.”
Odho said she recently returned from Lahore where she learned that the decision was directly influenced by the controversy surrounding the serial.
“I was told that educational institutions have decided they will no longer allow filming on their premises because of the inappropriate content shown in Main Manto Nahin Hoon,” she said, adding that institutions feel the portrayal of a teacher-student relationship is completely unacceptable.
She said that universities were also concerned about how educational spaces were being represented on screen.
While The Current was unable to independently verify Odho’s claim, no official notification from any educational institution or official has so far been released in this regard either.
It, however, may be noted that the claim comes after a recent episode intensified public criticism when Sajal Aly’s character staged her own kidnapping, demanding that her professor, played by Humayun Saeed and the university chancellor come to rescue her.
The scene culminated with students insisting the professor marry his student in court, a moment that went viral online and drew widespread backlash.
Despite the controversy, Main Manto Nahin Hoon continues to attract strong viewership for its performances and bold storytelling.