Confusion was Reema Maya’s first reaction when she was approached to direct the newest instalment of Student of the Year (SOTY). Having made independent movies and music videos, she wasn’t an expected choice for filmmaker Karan Johar’s franchise that offers a glossy take on campus life. Recalling her first conversation with Johar, she said, “I remember Karan saying, ‘I want you to make it your own.’ He has been true to his word.” The result is Student of the Year: After Dark.

Reema Maya