Student of the Year Franchise Returns as a Dark Thriller Web Series on JioHotstar

New Direction

The popular Student of the Year franchise is returning in a darker, thriller-driven format titled Student Of The Year: After Dark. The new web series will premiere exclusively on JioHotstar on November 13, 2026. The announcement marks the OTT debut of actor Shanaya Kapoor, who reportedly takes on a powerful double-role in a setting far removed from the glamorous campus life of the original 2012 films. According to Hindustan Times, the franchise marks 14 years since its launch with this major makeover, featuring a gritty first look of Shanaya in a blood-stained avatar.

Cast And Crew

The series is directed by Reema Maya and produced by Dharmatic Entertainment. Alok Jain, Head of Hindi & English Entertainment Business at JioStar, noted that reimagining the iconic franchise involves creative risk to match how young India experiences stories today. Producer Karan Johar stated that the project breaks the rules of the original films. Dharmatic CEO Apoorva Mehta added that the project represents a shared vision with JioHotstar for a new generation. Director Reema Maya described the show as a thriller competition web series that strips the original concept to its bones while keeping a young and talented cast.

Context

Streaming platforms in India increasingly adapt established Bollywood cinematic universes into longer-format web series to experiment with darker genres for youth audiences. The Student of the Year franchise first launched in 2012 under Karan Johar's direction, shaping youth pop culture before this upcoming digital reboot.