LAHORE: Several universities in Lahore have barred television drama shoots on their campuses following backlash against the series Main Manto Nahi Hoon, which was criticised for its portrayal of a student-teacher relationship.
Veteran actor Atiqa Odho disclosed the development after attending an event in Lahore, where she learned that multiple institutions had implemented the ban. According to her, administrators were alarmed by the negative response directed at the university featured in the show.
“I got to know that the schools have decided not to allow drama shoots on their premises anymore,” Odho said. “The institution shown in Main Manto Nahi Hoon faced public outrage after airing content that many found disgraceful.”
She added that educational institutions now intend to review full scripts before granting permission for future filming, aiming to safeguard their reputation and prevent misrepresentation of academic environments.
The controversy erupted after viewers condemned the drama for romanticising a teacher-student relationship. Many on social media described the storyline as inappropriate and disrespectful, arguing that it undermines the sanctity of educational spaces.
Supporters of the ban praised universities for taking what they called a “principled stand,” emphasizing that campuses should be centres of learning rather than backdrops for controversial plots. “Schools are for education, not for dramas or movie shootings,” one commenter wrote.
Others, however, maintained that such relationships do occur in real life and that television should not shy away from addressing them, though they agreed that sensitive topics must be handled responsibly.
Despite differing opinions, the prevailing sentiment among viewers and institutions alike is that creative freedom must be balanced with social accountability—especially when fiction draws from real academic settings.
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