student of the year after dark: Shanaya Kapoor thriller series arrives on JioHotstar, critics give it 3 stars
At a glance
- The third instalment of Karan Johar's Student of the Year franchise is a web series, released on JioHotstar on 13 November.
- Shanaya Kapoor plays twins Aayesha and Aditi in her OTT debut.
- Two major Indian reviews give it 3 stars, praising the visuals and acting but flagging a complicated plot.
The new web series student of the year after dark has been streaming on the Indian platform JioHotstar since 13 November 2026. It is the third instalment of Bollywood's popular Student of the Year franchise, and this time it comes as a series rather than a film. A day after its release, searches for the show also rose in Bangladesh on Saturday.
The earlier films were stories of college life, friendship and romance. The new series breaks that familiar pattern and brings in a darker mystery-thriller mood.
What the story is about
At the centre of the series are twin sisters Aayesha and Aditi Malik, both played by Shanaya Kapoor. As the story opens, Aayesha's body is found in a frozen lake. Police treat it as an accidental drowning, but Aditi refuses to accept that.
To uncover the truth, Aditi enrols at her sister's school, St Teresa's. There she learns about a secret competition run after dark, called "Student of the Year", in which Aayesha had taken part. The story moves forward through a series of dangerous games.
The series at a glance
- Title: Student of the Year: After Dark
- Platform: JioHotstar
- Release: 13 November 2026
- Director: Reema Maya
- Story and screenplay: Reema Maya and Debashish Irengbam
- Producers: Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Adar Poonawalla
- Genre: mystery thriller
Who is in it
This is Shanaya Kapoor's first OTT project. She is joined by Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Abhinav Singh and Deeya Damini. Experienced actors Sheeba Chadha, Neeraj Kabi and Vivek Gomber are also part of the cast.
How the series came about
The makers announced the series with a teaser on 19 October. At that point they confirmed that Shanaya Kapoor would play the lead and that it would begin streaming on JioHotstar on 13 November. It arrived on schedule.
What critics are saying
Both Bollywood Hungama and The Tribune in India gave the series 3 out of 5 stars. Both reviews praised its polished visuals, the stylish direction and Shanaya Kapoor's performance in the double role.
There are reservations too. Bollywood Hungama felt the writing gets complicated in places and that the back-and-forth narration can confuse viewers. The Tribune felt the twin storyline sometimes drifts away from the main plot. Both reviews noted that the night-time games resemble the Korean series Squid Game.
What to know before you watch
This is a story of mystery, competition and the psychological pressures young people face. Viewers should not expect the lighter tone of the earlier romance-and-friendship Student of the Year films. For fans of school or campus mystery thrillers, it is a new option.
Sources
This report was put together by comparing reports from The Hollywood Reporter India, Bollywood Hungama, The Tribune, ANI and Filmibeat. Links are listed below.
FAQ
Where can I watch student of the year after dark?
The series has been streaming on the Indian platform JioHotstar since 13 November 2026.
Who is in the cast?
Shanaya Kapoor plays twin sisters Aayesha and Aditi. The cast also includes Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Abhinav Singh, Deeya Damini, Sheeba Chadha, Neeraj Kabi and Vivek Gomber.
What is the story about?
A teenage girl is found drowned in a frozen lake. Her twin sister enrols at the same school to find out what happened and discovers a secret competition played at night.
Who directed and produced the series?
It is directed by Reema Maya. Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Adar Poonawalla are named as producers.
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