Cinema VinesAfter a standout performance in Tu Yaa Main (2026), Shanaya Kapoor is set to headline the next chapter of the Student Of The Year franchise. The upcoming project, backed by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment, will depart from the film format of its predecessors and arrive as a web series on JioHotstar later this year.
Unlike the candy‑floss, light‑hearted tone of the 2012 original and its 2019 sequel, the new series promises a darker, edgier narrative. Sources describe it as a blend of the high‑pressure, privileged world of college life seen in Netflix’s Indian series Class with the bold, emotionally turbulent style of the global hit Euphoria. This shift aims to deliver more intense conflicts and complex relationships that resonate with a broad, youth‑driven audience.
Reema Maya is slated to direct the series, while Shanaya Kapoor will play a double role. The franchise’s first installment introduced Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, and Sidharth Malhotra under Johar’s direction, and the second brought Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, and Tara Sutaria to the screen, helmed by Punit Malhotra. Alia Bhatt also made a cameo in a song in the second film.
There have been rumours that the series might be titled Student Of The Year 3 – After The Dark, though the final name has yet to be confirmed. Official announcements are expected to clarify the title and release details.
With its bold makeover and platform‑specific format, the Student Of The Year 3 web series aims to expand the franchise’s reach beyond traditional cinema audiences, tapping into the growing appetite for youth‑driven, edgy content across markets.
