In a heartfelt tribute befitting of a cinematic milestone, renowned filmmaker Karan Johar recently commemorated the 12th anniversary of his iconic film, ‘Student Of The Year’. This movie, which premiered in October 2012, is not only a symbol of youthful exuberance and ambition but also marked the acting debut of three now-celebrated performers: Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, and Varun Dhawan. As the film continues to resonate with audiences today, Johar took to social media to share fond memories, nostalgic photographs, and a glimpse into what was described as the “best time” of his life.
In his online tribute, Johar shared an array of unseen pictures from the film’s set, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the camaraderie and joy experienced during the film’s production. One of the standout images features Bollywood star Kajol, who made a memorable special appearance in the film’s hit song “Disco Deewane”. Alongside these precious visuals, Johar penned an expressive caption stating, “Let’s start with…there’s something about ‘today’, something very special!!! 12 years, and I look back at the film I embarked on, solely to have the best time of my life. And the best time, it was! #SOTY”.
For Johar, ‘Student Of The Year’ encapsulates all the elements that he cherishes most about the film industry. In a spirited video shared with his fans, Johar articulated his deep connection to the film, saying, “SOTY is to me to celebrate everything that I love about cinema, the youth, the gen, the zing, the music, the energy, the comic timing, everything that I always love about Hindi cinema is part of the student of the year.”
The film, a teen sports romantic comedy, brought fresh faces and dynamic talent to Bollywood, catapulting Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Siddharth Malhotra into stardom.
. Since then, Alia Bhatt has become a versatile actress with numerous successful projects under her belt, particularly within Dharma Productions—the production house owned by Johar. Noteworthy titles in her portfolio include ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya’, ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya’, ‘Kalank’, ‘Raazi’, and most recently, the commercially triumphant ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’.
‘Student Of The Year’ wasn’t just a launchpad for its lead actors. It also featured performances by veterans like Rishi Kapoor and Farida Jalal, along with appearances by Sana Saeed, Ram Kapoor, Sahil Anand, and Ronit Roy. The film’s set was an assembly point of multigenerational talent, a fact that Johar cherishes to this day.
In addition to these celebrations, Karan Johar has been basking in the glow of another cinematic anniversary. His directorial debut, ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, recently marked its 26th year since the release. This film, a romantic comedy-drama starring Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, and Kajol, brought tremendous accolades Johar’s way, including several Filmfare Awards. On this occasion, he shared emotional stories related to ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, reflecting on the impactful journey his career has taken since then.
As the celebratory posts circulates across the online world, this look back at ‘Student Of The Year’ serves not just as a walk down memory lane, but as a testament to Johar’s enduring passion for storytelling, youthful zest, and, most importantly, the transformative power of cinema. His reflective and joyous demeanor celebrates the spirit of filmmaking—the connections created both on and off the screen, which continue to inspire new generations of cinema lovers.
Through these heartfelt tributes, Johar reaffirms his commitment to not only his past achievements but also to his future endeavors in the film industry, keeping alive the flame of creativity and the vigor of storytelling that has become synonymous with his name. As fans and colleagues alike fondly recall the wit and whimsy of ‘Student Of The Year’, the film’s legacy as a symbol of youthful ambition and cinematic grandeur continues to thrive, twelve years on.
