I was offered Sanam Saeed’s role in ‘Main Manto Nahi Hoon’: Mira Sethi

Actor reveals how she rejected a Khalil-Ur-Rehman Qamar script due to writer’s views

Mira Sethi is not one to act against her beliefs. In a recent interview with Muneeb Qadir, the actor revealed that, “I was offered Sanam Saeed’s role in Main Manto Nahi Hoon, if you guys watch that show.” 

She further elaborated that the project intrigued her. “I was so tempted because it would have been Humayum Saeed, Sajal Ali and myself and I had already worked with Sajal in Kuch Ankahi. But because of the writer of the show, I didn’t do it. I just thought that I talk so much about feminism and then if I had ended up doing a role created by a writer who holds such problematic views on women, then all of it would have gone to waste.” 

Fans priased the actor’s decision to not go forward with the script. “Very few people in the industry have the ability to stand by their views,” wrote an IG user. “Love Mira. So much respect.” Another reaffirmed that she made the right decision, “Thank you! The drama is not making any sense at all,” they penned. “Glad you stayed away from that chaotic piece of mess.”

Sanam Saeed who plays Miss Maria, has previously shared why she decided to take the role in an interview with Aamna Haider Isani on Haute Talk.  “I know that Main Manto Nahi Hoon was in the works for a long time,” she said. “And that its cast has been changing and evolving over the years. So he (Khalil-Ur-Rehman) named all the actors he had roped in by then, including Humayun Saeed and Sajal Aly. And I was like, I’ve never worked with Humayun or Sajal before.”

She admitted that she had declined Baig’s offer twice before due to unavailability and time constraints. “This time, if I had said no again, it would be like saying, ‘don’t ask me again’. So this time I was like, here’s a drama that’s got Humayun and Sajal, it’s a Khalilur Rehman Qamar script, but, let’s see what we can do.”

Due to limited time, Saeed said she didn’t read the entire script, just the portions involving her character. “This is the first time that I didn’t read the whole script, just my parts. And I really enjoyed Miss Maria.”

Khalil-Ur-Rehman has previously been under fire for his comments about Saba Qamar  when he criticized her dress choice at an award show, claiming that her attire went against his values and beliefs. Despite acknowledging her talent, he made it clear that she could never work in any of his projects due to her fashion choices.

The writer was slammed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) politician Sharmila Faruqui in April. During her appearance on TV host Waseem Badami’s show, Faruqui expressed strong disapproval of the renowned drama writer. “I don’t like him,” she said. “Or I don’t want to talk about him. He is such a misogynist.”

Badami followed up by asking whether she believed women should refuse to work on his projects. In response, Faruqui said, “I think nobody should even watch his dramas and producers also should not produce his serials.”

Whether it’s criticizing celebrities for their personal beliefs, airing his grievances about actors or making bold claims about women’s roles in society, Khalil has sparked drama both on and off-screen.

His strong views have often led to clashes with some of the biggest names in the industry such as Noman Ijaz, Mahira Khan, Urwa Hocane and Sonya Hussyn, making him the subject of much discussion in entertainment circles. 

Main Manto Nahi Hoon is directed by Nadeem Baig and distributed by Six Sigma Plus and Next Level Entertainment. It is being aired on ARY Digital. The drama features a star-studded cast with Humayun and Sajal taking the lead and Sanam Saeed, Asif Raza Mir, Saba Hamid, Saba Faisal, Saima Noor and Azaan Sami Khan in supporting roles.