27 October,2026 01:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Student of the Year: After Dark trailer. Pic via YouTube
JioHotstar has unveiled the trailer of Student of the Year: After Dark, reimagining the familiar world of St. Teresa's as a campus murder mystery. Starring Shanaya Kapoor in a double role, the series follows a young woman who infiltrates her sister's school to investigate her mysterious death, uncovering secrets and rivalries along the way.
The trailer introduces Aayesha Malik (Shanaya), St. Teresa's queen bee, who is found frozen and dead under mysterious circumstances. Her twin sister, Aditi (also played by Shanaya), refuses to believe that her death was an accident. Determined to find the truth, Aditi enters the school and competes in the prestigious Student of the Year contest, where her sister's closest friends become potential suspects.
The series also stars Abhinav Singh, Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Deeya Damani, Adi Malik, Sheeba Chaddha and Vivek Gomber. Produced by Dharmatic Entertainment and directed by Reema Maya, it will stream on JioHotstar from November 13.
Speaking about her double role, Shanaya said, "Playing Ayesha and Aditi has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences for me as an actor. While the two sisters may look alike, they couldn't be more different in their personalities and the choices they make."
She added that Ayesha's death sets the story in motion, while Aditi's investigation exposes a world of deception and hidden secrets. "What appealed to me the most about Student of the Year: After Dark is how it takes a much-loved franchise into an unexpected and new territory, where the stakes go far beyond competition and winning a title. It's this fresh and intriguing take on a familiar world that made the experience so exciting for me," the actor said.
Unlike the original franchise, which centred on students competing for a coveted title, After Dark combines the competition with a murder investigation. Aditi must navigate the school's social hierarchy while figuring out who could have wanted her sister dead.
Director Reema Maya described the series as a contemporary take on youth, ambition and the pressure to succeed. "Student Of The Year: After Dark is grit, angst and heart. It is for the youth of now. A popular franchise reimagined for current times," she said.
Explaining the premise, Maya added, "I wanted to explore the relentless competition that our youth find themselves grappling with. What happens when the need to succeed becomes all-consuming - destroying friendships, and even oneself."
The director also described the show as a "murder mystery - competition series, where the competition is part of the investigation", highlighting how the contest itself becomes central to Aditi's search for answers.
With ambition, fractured friendships and a suspicious circle of classmates at its centre, Student of the Year: After Dark promises a darker spin on the franchise. The series premieres on JioHotstar on November 13.
