# Student of the Year
**Student of the Year** (also known as SOTY) is a 2012 Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama directed by [Karan Johar](https://www.edgepedia.org/karan-johar), set at the fictional St. Teresa's school in Dehradun, where three students compete for the school's annual Student of the Year trophy while a love triangle strains their friendships[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071) • [2](https://www.sotythefilm.com/). It is best known as the debut film of [Alia Bhatt](https://www.edgepedia.org/alia-bhatt), Sidharth Malhotra, and [Varun Dhawan](https://www.edgepedia.org/varun-dhawan), all of whom went on to prominent Hindi film careers[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/students-of-cinema/story-c19GlYu9yq8KZAWWA1O5fK_amp.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 19 October 2012, Hindi language, India[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071) |
| Director and writers | Directed by Karan Johar; story by Karan Johar, screenplay by Rensil D'Silva, dialogue by Niranjan Iyengar[4](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=1155) • [22](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Student-of-the-Year-(2012-India)) • [23](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/student-of-the-year/cast/) |
| Debut cast | Alia Bhatt (Shanaya Singhania), Sidharth Malhotra (Abhimanyu "Abhi" Singh), and Varun Dhawan (Rohan "Ro" Nanda) all made their acting debuts[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/students-of-cinema/story-c19GlYu9yq8KZAWWA1O5fK_amp.html) |
| Music | Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics by Anvita Dutt[4](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=1155) |
| Runtime | 146 minutes (2h 26m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071) |
| Worldwide gross | $10,113,993, of which $670,086 came from the United States and Canada[5](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2172071/) |
| Reception | IMDb rating 5.3/10 from about 23,000 users; Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer 50% from 6 reviews[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071/ratings/) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/student_of_the_year) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The story is framed around Dean Yogendra Vashisht ([Rishi Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/rishi-kapoor)), who falls gravely ill years after retirement and asks to see students from his final batch; in flashbacks they recall how the annual Student of the Year competition shaped their lives[8](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/student-of-the-year/2000303618/). At St. Teresa's, where the dean has held the competition every year for 25 years, students compete across three events and the highest combined score wins the trophy[2](https://www.sotythefilm.com/) • [9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071/plotsummary/).
Rohan Nanda, son of a business tycoon, seeks his father's approval and sees the trophy as a way to win it; [Abhimanyu Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/abhimanyu-singh), a middle-class newcomer, sees the trophy as the first step toward the success he wants[2](https://www.sotythefilm.com/). The two rivals become best friends, but Abhi falls for Rohan's girlfriend Shanaya Singhania, and she begins to return his feelings; when Rohan discovers this, their friendship and the competition turn into rivalry[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071/plotsummary/). The film ends with Rohan and Abhi racing amicably across the college grounds, their friendship intact[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071/plotsummary/).
## Production and cast
Karan Johar directed and co-wrote the film, produced by Hiroo Johar and [Gauri Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/gauri-khan) under [Dharma Productions](https://www.edgepedia.org/dharma-productions) and [Red Chillies Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-chillies-entertainment)[4](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=1155) • [10](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/movie/student-of-the-year-14798). It was Johar's first film as director not to star Shah Rukh Khan[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/students-of-cinema/story-c19GlYu9yq8KZAWWA1O5fK_amp.html). The three leads were all newcomers: Varun Dhawan is the son of director David Dhawan, Alia Bhatt is the daughter of Mahesh Bhatt, and Sidharth Malhotra was a Delhi model[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/students-of-cinema/story-c19GlYu9yq8KZAWWA1O5fK_amp.html).
The supporting cast included Rishi Kapoor as Dean Yogendra Vashisht, Ronit Roy as coach Karan Shah, Ram Kapoor as Rohan's father Ashok Nanda, Sana Saeed as Tanya, Boman Irani, and [Farida Jalal](https://www.edgepedia.org/farida-jalal) as Abhimanyu's grandmother[4](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=1155) • [11](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/student-of-the-year/umc.cmc.7ee828b3ej8w5a7f6sqhrwltn). [Sana Saeed](https://www.edgepedia.org/sana-saeed) returned to films with this movie after a break; she was known for playing [Shah Rukh Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/shah-rukh-khan)'s onscreen daughter in *Kuch Kuch Hota Hai* (1998), Johar's directorial debut[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071). Filming took place partly in Bangkok, Thailand[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071).
Johar described the film's world as escapist and larger-than-life and said he wanted to shoot lip-synced love songs rather than background numbers, keeping the song-and-dance tradition central to his style of cinema[12](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/school-of-fantasy-2/). The production held a small puja after two or three mishaps on set, including Varun Dhawan injuring his nose during a fight sequence with Malhotra[13](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/karan-johar-had-a-puja-to-avoid-mishaps-on-student-of-the-year-sets-607289).
## Music
The soundtrack was composed by the duo [Vishal–Shekhar](https://www.edgepedia.org/vishal-shekhar) with lyrics by Anvita Dutt[4](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=1155). Songs include "Ratta Maar", performed by [Vishal Dadlani](https://www.edgepedia.org/vishal-dadlani) and Shefali Alvares, and "Ishq Wala Love"[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071). At the [Mirchi Music Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/mirchi-music-awards) the film received recognition in listener-choice categories, and "Radha" became one of its most award-associated songs[2](https://www.sotythefilm.com/). TV Guide lists a 2013 Popular Award win for Best Song of the Year, with nominations for Best Music Director, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Best Female Playback[8](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/student-of-the-year/2000303618/). IMDb counts 11 wins and 42 nominations in total[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071).
## Box office
[Box Office Mojo](https://www.edgepedia.org/box-office-mojo) records a worldwide gross of $10,113,993, with $670,086 from the United States and Canada, $518,015 from the United Kingdom, and $8,776,712 from India[5](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2172071/). Indian trade figures differ by source: Bollywood Hungama and Sacnilk list an India nett total of ₹700 million (₹70.00 crore), opening at ₹74.8 million (₹7.48 crore) on day one and reaching ₹480 million (₹48.00 crore) in week one[14](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/student-of-the-year/box-office/) • [15](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Student_Of_The_Year_2012), while Boxoffy reports ₹629.4 million (₹62.94 crore) India nett against a reported ₹450 million (₹45 crore) budget and assigns a "Semi Hit" verdict, noting the film fell short of its roughly ₹680 million (₹68 crore) break-even threshold[16](https://www.boxoffy.com/student-of-the-year-box-office.html). Sacnilk, using a ₹590 million (₹59 crore) budget figure, calls the film a "Hit"[15](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Student_Of_The_Year_2012). Box Office India's yearly rankings place the film among the more commercially successful Hindi releases of 2012[2](https://www.sotythefilm.com/).
## Reception
Critical response was mixed. Time Out gave the film 3 of 5 stars, calling it light, undemanding escapist entertainment set in an imaginary India of designer labels, while criticizing its clichéd coming-of-age plot and its portrayal of the dean[17](https://www.timeout.com/movies/student-of-the-year). The Times of India gave it 3.5 of 5, describing it as larger-than-life, colorful, lavish, and beautifully shot[18](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/student-of-the-year/movie-review/16840123.cms). On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 50% Tomatometer from 6 reviews; critics quoted there include Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express, who gave it 2 of 5 and wrote that it does not feel as if it is trying for novelty[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/student_of_the_year). Audience ratings sit near the critics' scores: 5.3/10 on IMDb from about 23,000 users[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071/ratings/).
## Legacy
The film's main significance is as a launch vehicle: Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, and Varun Dhawan all debuted here and later became prominent Hindi film stars[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/students-of-cinema/story-c19GlYu9yq8KZAWWA1O5fK_amp.html) • [19](https://epaper.himalayanmail.com/admin/paper/1743452502Page%2010.pdf). A standalone sequel, *Student of the Year 2*, was released in 2019, starring Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Panday, and Aditya Seal[20](https://epaper.metroudayam.in/media/2025-05/udayam-english_09.05.2025r.pdf). Reports have also circulated about a planned *Student of the Year 3*, though without official confirmation[19](https://epaper.himalayanmail.com/admin/paper/1743452502Page%2010.pdf). The film remains available on streaming services including Netflix and Prime Video[21](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/student-of-the-year).
## References
1. [Student of the Year (2012), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071)
2. [SOTY | Student of the Year (official site archive)](https://www.sotythefilm.com/)
3. [Students of cinema, Hindustan Times (18 October 2012)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/students-of-cinema/story-c19GlYu9yq8KZAWWA1O5fK_amp.html)
4. [Student Of The Year, Box Office India](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=1155)
5. [Student of the Year (2012), Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2172071/)
6. [Student of the Year (2012) – Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071/ratings/)
7. [Student of the Year, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/student_of_the_year)
8. [Student of the Year, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/student-of-the-year/2000303618/)
9. [Student of the Year (2012) – Plot, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2172071/plotsummary/)
10. [Student Of The Year (2012), BollywoodMDB](https://www.bollywoodmdb.com/movie/student-of-the-year-14798)
11. [Student of the Year, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/student-of-the-year/umc.cmc.7ee828b3ej8w5a7f6sqhrwltn)
12. [School of Fantasy, The Indian Express (13 October 2012)](https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/school-of-fantasy-2/)
13. [Karan Johar had a puja to avoid mishaps on Student Of The Year sets, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/karan-johar-had-a-puja-to-avoid-mishaps-on-student-of-the-year-sets-607289)
14. [Student Of The Year Box Office, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/student-of-the-year/box-office/)
15. [Student Of The Year (2012), Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Student_Of_The_Year_2012)
16. [Student Of The Year Box Office Collection, Boxoffy](https://www.boxoffy.com/student-of-the-year-box-office.html)
17. [Student of the Year review, Time Out (23 October 2012)](https://www.timeout.com/movies/student-of-the-year)
18. [Student Of The Year Movie Review {3.5/5}, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/student-of-the-year/movie-review/16840123.cms)
19. [Himalayan Mail epaper page (Student Of The Year 3 reports)](https://epaper.himalayanmail.com/admin/paper/1743452502Page%2010.pdf)
20. [Udayam English epaper (9 May 2025, Student Of The Year 2 details)](https://epaper.metroudayam.in/media/2025-05/udayam-english_09.05.2025r.pdf)
21. [Student Of The Year streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/student-of-the-year)
22. [Student of the Year (2012) - Box Office and Financial Information](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Student-of-the-Year-(2012-India))
23. [Student Of The Year Cast List, Student Of The Year Movie Star Cast, Release Date, Movie Trailer, Review- Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/student-of-the-year/cast/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 2010s › Hindi films of 2012*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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