Released theatrically on 19 October 2012, Student of the Year received mixed reviews from critics. While it was praised for its performances, visuals, direction, and music, some criticism was directed at its writing and narrative depth. The film emerged as a commercial success and became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of the year.[6]
At the 58th Filmfare Awards, the film earned four nominations, including Best Male Debut (Malhotra and Dhawan) and Best Female Debut (Bhatt), and won the R. D. Burman Award for New Music Talent (Neeti Mohan for "Ishq Wala Love". The film later spawned a standalone sequel, Student of the Year 2 (2019), directed by Punit Malhotra and starring Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, and Ananya Panday, with Bhatt making a cameo appearance in a song.[7]
At the elite St. Teresa's College, Rohan Nanda is a wealthy, popular student and the younger son of business magnate Ashok Nanda. While Rohan aspires to be a musician, his father wants him to follow in the footsteps of his elder brother, Ajay, and join the family business. Ro is in a relationship with Shanaya Singhania, a fashionable and affluent student who becomes increasingly discontented with his flirtatious behavior, particularly toward her rival Tanya Israni.
The trio advances through the initial rounds. However, Abhi's grandmother, his only living family, passes away before the dance competition; in a moment of grief, Abhi and Shanaya share a kiss, which Ro witnesses, leading to a confrontation that fractures their friendship. Simultaneously, Shanaya falls out with her best friend Shruti, while Ro parts ways with his longtime friend Jeet Khurana. Shanaya quits midway through the dance battle, leaving Ro and Abhi to qualify for the final round.
The concluding triathlon event tests swimming, cycling, and running. Abhi, leading the race, deliberately slows down in the final stretch, allowing Rohan to win. However, Ro declines the trophy, stating that he does not wish to accept it. Their friend Kaizad "Sudo" Sodabottleopenerwala criticizes the competition, blaming it for breaking friendships and perpetuating favoritism, which prompts Yogi to retire. The batch graduates and eventually drifts apart.
A decade later, a terminally ill Yogi requests a reunion with his former students. Ro, now a rock musician, and Abhi, an investment banker now married to Shanaya, return to meet him. The reunion triggers unresolved tensions between Ro and Abhi, particularly over the events of the competition. During a heated exchange, Abhi reveals he lost the triathlon intentionally after noticing Ashok's satisfaction with Ro's defeat. Their argument gives way to reconciliation, rekindling their friendship. Yogi dies shortly after, content at having reunited his students. The film concludes with Rohan and Abhi playfully racing across the college grounds, echoing their past.
On 5 January 2011, director Karan Johar and presenter Shah Rukh Khan shared the first-look poster of Student of the Year on social media, officially announcing the project.[8] The film marked the acting debuts of Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, and Varun Dhawan. Bhatt is the daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, while Dhawan is the son of director David Dhawan. Former child artist Sana Saeed, known for her role in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), made her adult acting debut in the film. Kayoze Irani, son of actor Boman Irani, also appeared in a supporting role.
Malhotra and Dhawan had earlier worked as assistant directors on Johar's My Name Is Khan (201.[9] Notably, Student of the Year became Johar's first directorial venture without Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role.
Principal photography took place primarily in Dehradun, with scenes filmed at the Forest Research Institute and Kasiga School, which served as the exterior for the fictional St. Teresa's College. Additional sequences were shot in Srinagar, including hospital scenes filmed outside The Lalit Grand Palace. Parts of the film were also shot in Thaila