Pakistan, July 29 -- Viewers have criticised 'Main Manto Nahi Hoon' for a body-shaming joke and for reinforcing outdated portrayals of women.

In a university classroom, Manto is teaching a class on the theory of motivation.

The flirtatious Mehmal interrupts and asks whether he is married.

When Manto ignores her question, Mehmal jokes that she assumed he must be married "with a bunch of kids and a fat wife". Visibly uncomfortable, he asks her how she assumes he would have a fat wife.

Doubling down, she replies: "The lack of motivation on your face means your wife must be fat."

Her response results in laughter from her classmates.

Though the show presented it as humour, many viewers found the dialogue degrading, especially toward wome...