Remember Student of the Year? The stylish campus life, high-energy music, fierce competition and luxury aesthetics made the 2012 film a defining teen drama for Bollywood fans. After its 2019 sequel, the franchise returns with an unexpected pivot: the familiar, elite halls of St. Teresa Heritage School are taking a dark, suspense-driven turn.
Titled Student of the Year: After Dark, the upcoming JioHotstar series marks Shanaya Kapoor’s first major scripted OTT outing, headlining in a challenging double role. This time, the story revolves around an icy lake murder, buried motives and an undercover investigation into an elite campus clique.
Directed by indie filmmaker Reema Maya, also known as Reema Sengupta, and produced by Dharmatic Entertainment, the series combines rising newcomers with seasoned screen veterans.
Student of the Year: After Dark Cast & Characters
The Student of the Year: After Dark Cast features Shanaya Kapoor in a double role, alongside Abhinav Singh, Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Deeya Damani, Adi Malik, Sheeba Chaddha and Vivek Gomber.
Here’s a look at the actors and their characters.
| Actor | Character / Role | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shanaya Kapoor | Aayesha Malik and Aditi Malik | Twin sisters: St. Teresa’s queen bee and her sister investigating her death |
| Abhinav Singh | Rehaan | Aayesha’s former romantic interest; the rejected lover |
| Divik Sharma | Sid | Aayesha’s seemingly perfect boyfriend |
| Manya Grover | Tara | Aayesha’s jealous best friend |
| Deeya Damani | Baby Doll | An eccentric, unpredictable roommate |
| Adi Malik | Jay D | Competitor in the student circle |
| Sheeba Chaddha | Grieving mother | Seeking answers about her daughter’s death |
| Vivek Gomber | Supporting role (TBA) | Character details yet to be confirmed |
The younger cast members form the competitive student circle at St. Teresa Heritage School, while Sheeba Chaddha and Vivek Gomber bring an experienced presence to the story.
Character Breakdown & Core Cast
1. Shanaya Kapoor as Aayesha Malik and Aditi Malik
Shanaya Kapoor takes on dual roles that serve as the narrative engine of the entire series.
Aayesha Malik: The queen bee of St. Teresa’s
Aayesha is the glamorous, privileged and confident queen bee of St. Teresa Heritage School. She enjoys a prominent position in the campus social circle, but her reign ends abruptly when her body is discovered in Barakhali Lake, drowned and frozen in the icy water.
Her mysterious death raises questions about what really happened and who might have wanted her gone.
Aditi Malik: The sister determined to uncover the truth
Aditi refuses to accept the explanation surrounding her twin sister’s death. Determined to discover the truth, she infiltrates St. Teresa’s undercover and enters the prestigious Student of the Year competition.
Her investigation brings her closer to Aayesha’s friends, boyfriend and other people who were part of her life. But the deeper she goes, the more suspicious everyone becomes.
The contrast between the sisters is an interesting part of Shanaya’s double role. Aayesha represents the glamorous, popular side of the school, while Aditi has a more understated appearance and is driven by grief and the need to find answers.
2. The Student Suspects: Rehaan, Sid, Tara, Baby Doll and Jay D
The student circle is built around a collection of familiar but intriguing mystery archetypes. Each character has a connection to Aayesha, and their relationships could hold clues to her death.
- Rehaan (Abhinav Singh): The rejected lover whose unresolved romantic connection with Aayesha puts him under suspicion.
- Sid (Divik Sharma): Aayesha’s seemingly perfect boyfriend, whose charming image may conceal a more complicated side.
- Tara (Manya Grover): Aayesha’s jealous best friend, caught between close friendship and simmering resentment.
- Baby Doll (Deeya Damani): An eccentric, unpredictable roommate whose behaviour adds another layer of mystery.
- Jay D (Adi Malik): A competitive student navigating the ambitions and rivalries of St. Teresa’s.
Together, these characters create a complicated circle of friendship, romance, jealousy and suspicion. For Aditi, figuring out whom she can trust may prove just as difficult as discovering who was responsible for Aayesha’s death.
3. Sheeba Chaddha as a Grieving Mother
Sheeba Chaddha appears as a grieving mother demanding answers about her daughter’s death. Her emotional presence adds another dimension to the mystery, showing that the tragedy has consequences beyond the student circle.
4. Vivek Gomber
Vivek Gomber adds another experienced performer to the ensemble. However, his character’s name and precise connection to the central investigation have not been clearly established in the available cast details.
Rather than assigning him an unconfirmed identity, it is better to wait for the series or an official character introduction to reveal more about his role.
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What Is Student of the Year: After Dark About?
The series turns St. Teresa Heritage School into the backdrop for an atmospheric murder mystery.
The story begins with the discovery of Aayesha Malik’s body in Barakhali Lake. She is found drowned and frozen in the icy water. While her death is initially treated as an accident, her twin sister Aditi refuses to accept that explanation.
Determined to uncover the truth, Aditi enters St. Teresa’s undercover and joins the school’s prestigious Student of the Year competition. Her investigation brings her face-to-face with the people who knew Aayesha best.
But this is not an ordinary school competition.
The trailer reveals a secret underground game operating within the school, where students face increasingly dangerous challenges. Winning is no longer simply about getting a trophy or becoming the most popular student. The competition appears to have deadly consequences.
As Aditi investigates, she encounters a complicated group of people connected to her sister, including a jealous best friend, a rejected lover, a seemingly perfect boyfriend and an eccentric roommate.
A mysterious brooch, concealed rivalries and dangerous trials add further questions to the investigation. Aditi must become part of the same competitive world that may hold the answers to her sister’s death.
How After Dark Differs From Previous Student of the Year Films
The original Student of the Year became popular for its glossy campus atmosphere, friendship, romance, competition and memorable soundtrack.
Released in 2012, the film introduced Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra. Its 2019 sequel, Student of the Year 2, featured Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria.
Here’s how the new series compares with the earlier films.
| Feature | Student of the Year (2012 / 2019) | Student of the Year: After Dark |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Bright, aspirational St. Teresa’s | Atmospheric St. Teresa Heritage School |
| Primary genre | Romantic teen drama and sports competition | Murder mystery, teen thriller and survival suspense |
| Story focus | Campus relationships and coming-of-age rivalries | Investigation into Aayesha’s death |
| The competition | Athletic and cultural trophy tournament | Dangerous underground trials with life-or-death stakes |
| Format | Feature films | Six-episode streaming series |
| Tone | Glossy, vibrant and youthful | Dark, intense and psychological |
| Music | High-energy dance numbers | Suspense-focused musical atmosphere |
Behind the Scenes: Direction and Production
Reema Maya: Director and Writer
Reema Maya, is an independent filmmaker with experience in short films and other creative projects.
Her short film Counterfeit Kunkoo premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018, while Nocturnal Burger also premiered at Sundance in 2023.
Production House and Producers
The series is backed by Dharmatic Entertainment, the digital entertainment arm associated with Dharma Productions.
Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla and Apoorva Mehta are credited as producers. Somen Mishra is also part of the wider creative leadership at Dharma and was involved in early creative discussions around the series.
Student of the Year: After Dark Release Date and OTT Platform
Student of the Year: After Dark is scheduled to premiere on November 13, 2026, exclusively on JioHotstar.
The official trailer was released on October 27, 2026, giving fans their first proper look at Shanaya Kapoor’s double role, the frozen lake mystery and the secret competition taking place at St. Teresa’s.
Here’s a quick overview of the series.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Student of the Year: After Dark |
| Genre | Teen mystery thriller |
| Lead actress | Shanaya Kapoor |
| Other cast members | Abhinav Singh, Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Deeya Damani, Adi Malik, Sheeba Chaddha and Vivek Gomber |
| Director | Reema Maya |
| Writer | Reema Maya |
| Producers | Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla and Apoorva Mehta |
| Production house | Dharmatic Entertainment |
| Episodes | 6 |
| Episode runtime | Approximately 30–40 minutes; finale nearly an hour |
| Release date | November 13, 2026 |
| OTT platform | JioHotstar |
| Language | Hindi |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who plays the lead in Student of the Year: After Dark?
Shanaya Kapoor headlines the series in a double role, playing twin sisters Aayesha Malik and Aditi Malik.
2. Where is Aayesha Malik’s body found?
Her body is discovered in Barakhali Lake, drowned and frozen in the icy water.
3. What is the secret game in the series?
It is an underground competition operating inside St. Teresa Heritage School. The game pushes students into dangerous trials and appears to be connected to Aayesha’s death.
4. How many episodes are there in Student of the Year: After Dark?
The series has six episodes. Most run for approximately 30–40 minutes, while the finale is almost an hour long.
5. When and where can I watch Student of the Year: After Dark?
The series is scheduled to premiere on November 13, 2026, exclusively on JioHotstar.
6. Who is Reema Maya?
Reema Maya, also known as Reema Sengupta, is an independent filmmaker whose work includes the Sundance-selected short films Counterfeit Kunkoo and Nocturnal Burger. She directs and contributes to the writing of Student of the Year: After Dark.
Student of the Year: After Dark looks like an interesting new chapter for a franchise associated with youthful energy, campus competition and memorable music.
With Shanaya Kapoor taking on two contrasting roles, a fresh ensemble of actors and an icy lake murder at the centre of the story, the series has plenty of elements to keep fans curious.
The secret competition adds another intriguing layer. This time, the race for the Student of the Year title comes with hidden rules, dangerous challenges and a mystery that Aditi must solve.
Will she uncover the truth behind her sister’s death, or will the secrets of St. Teresa’s prove more dangerous than she expects?
We’ll find out when Student of the Year: After Dark premieres on JioHotstar on November 13, 2026.
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