Karan Johar's 'Student Of The Year: After Dark' sparks comparisons with 'Riverdale', 'Squid Game'

View this post on Instagram. One viewer wrote, “Giving Riverdale x 13 reasons vibes.” Another commented, “What in the MTV Paanch Riverdale combo is this?”The references suggest that the series’ blend of school politics, mystery and darker coming-of-age themes has reminded viewers of dramas known for their twists and complicated student relationships.

Another fan described it as “South Bombay ka squid game basically”, pointing to the competitive and potentially dangerous environment teased in the trailer. The comparisons extended beyond television.

One reader said the series reminded them of a recently read book, writing, “It reminded me of the book i read recently called ‘That Night’ by Niidhi upadhyay, Not exactly but some similarities".

These are early audience impressions rather than confirmation of any direct similarities or creative influences, but they suggest that the trailer has prompted viewers to look beyond the franchise’s Bollywood origins.

Directed by Reema Maya and produced by Dharmatic Entertainment, Student Of The Year: After Darkcentres on St. Teresa Heritage School, where a coveted student title becomes intertwined with a murder investigation. Kapoor plays twin sisters Aayesha Malik and Aditi.

Aayesha, a prominent figure at the school, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Unconvinced that her sister’s death was an accident, Aditi sets out to uncover the truth. She enters the school’s fiercely competitive Student of the Year contest to investigate, navigating its social hierarchies and rivalries while trying to determine what happened to Aayesha.

As the mystery deepens, the people closest to her sister may hold the answers Aditi is seeking. The series also features Abhinav Singh, Divik Sharma, Manya Grover, Deeya Damani, Adi Malik, Sheeba Chaddha and Vivek Gomber.

Kapoor had teased her new role on Instagram last week, giving fans an early glimpse of the project. View this post on Instagram. Student Of The Year: After Darkis scheduled to premiere on.

Jio. Hotstaron November 13. Kapoor’s double role places her at the centre of a franchise that is moving away from its glossy campus aesthetic towards a darker mystery.

The new series arrives 14 years after the original. Student Of The Year, released in 2012, marked Johar’s return to the director’s chair after. My Name Is Khan.

The film introduced Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra, all of whom went on to establish themselves in Hindi cinema. The sequel, Student Of The Year 2, followed in 2019 under director Punit Malhotra.

Starring Tiger Shroff, the film marked the acting debuts of Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria and continued the franchise’s focus on campus rivalries, romance and competition.