Student of the Year, Karan Johar’s campus blockbuster

Karan Johar is known as a multifaceted filmmaker and for good reason. The Dharma Productions chief has unveiled five directorial ventures till today and has covered some of the most important subjects that relate to our day to day lives. With his first film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Karan Johar showcased bubblegum romances and teenage love. 

His latest film, Student of the Year, brought to life campus romances yet again. The film released on the 19th of October, 2012, and starred debutants Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The film revolves around the lives of three students at a premium educational academy, St. Teresa’s High School, Dehradun. Presided over by a gay school dean named Yogendra Vasisht (Rishi Kapoor), the school has organized a Student of the Year competition annually to decide the best student at school. Abhimanyu Singh (Siddharth), a newbie at school, is introduced to a new life, different from that of his middle-class upbringing. He ends up befriending Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), a rich and affluent boy. He also crosses paths with Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt), the prettiest girl at school while hanging out with her boyfriend Rohan.

As time flies, a love triangle ensues, with Abhi falling in love with Shanaya, despite the fact that her boyfriend is his best friend. Shanaya unknowingly finds herself falling for Abhi, reciprocating his feelings. When her boyfriend finds out, things fall apart and a rivalry grows between the boys.

Karan Johar’s Student of the Year – A fun and entertaining package!

Movies centered on campus-romances usually have a certain unexplainable charm that manages to draw in crowds, young and old, to cinemas. And such is the case with Karan Johar’s fifth directorial venture, Student of the Year. The film, released on the 19th of October, 2012, has done exceptionally well at the box office following its release. Starring three newcomers in the lead, Siddharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, this film by Karan Johar will have older viewers reminiscing their younger days and the youth wishing they lived a similarly fantastical teenage life!

Student of the Year narrates the tale of three youngsters, Abhimanyu Singh aka Abhi (Siddharth Malhotra), a middle class boy enrolled on a scholarship, campus-sweetheart Shanaya Singhania (Alia Bhatt) and her boyfriend Rohan Nanda (Varun Dhawan), the son of a business tycoon.

At the school, Abhi befriends Rohan despite their different backgrounds and mentalities. Their friendship however gets rocky after Abhi begins to fall head-over-heels for Rohan’s girlfriend, Shanaya, who in turn begins to reciprocate his approaches. As the story proceeds, the three enlist in the Student of the Year competition and begin competing against each other to win the title.

The film comes complete with an interesting and extremely catchy soundtrack composed by Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani. Student of the Year also stars Rishi Kapoor playing the role of a meticulous and gay dean of the school and television actors Ram Kapoor and Ronit Roy.

Is Mohit Marwah Karan Johar’s upcoming debutant?

Karan Johar’s fifth directorial venture, Student of the Year, worked as a perfect stepping stone for debutants Siddharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan. The trio starred as students at a well-heeled educational institute at Dehradun, presided over by a gay dean played by veteran actor, Rishi Kapoor. The film sees Varun and Alia dating while Siddharth plays a middle-class boy who ends up grabbing the limelight and winning the attention of the prettiest girl at school.

After having successfully launched Siddharth, Alia and Varun’s careers, Karan is currently planning to introduce yet another fresh actor, or so thinks B-town. According to sources, actor Arjun Kapoor’s cousin brother, Mohit Marwah, is currently being groomed for a big Bollywood debut. The youngster has previously starred in Karan Johar’s production, Strangers in the Night. The son of Bonny Kapoor’s sister Reena and Sandeep Marwah, Mohit seems to have the good looks of the Kapoors and could very well be the next big star! Not much has been reported about the newbie being roped in by Karan Johar or other filmmakers though.

Siddharth, Alia and Varun were Karan’s first debutants to have ever played a lead role in a film directed by the Dharma Productions chief. Previously, Karan has launched several directors with his productions. The actor has brought to the spotlight fresh talent that has given the Bollywood industry a whole new touch. 

Student of the Year director, Karan Johar, clears rumors a gay orientation

 Being one of India’s most renowned and recognized filmmakers isn’t easy. Handling fame does get difficult at times, particularly when gossip-mongers begin whispering rumors that hold no substance. Karan Johar, a director, producer and the head of the film production house, Dharma Productions, has been subjected to rumors as such since quite a while now. A man married to his work and his profession, Karan has kept his personal life under wraps and has preferred being tight-lipped about his relationships. This, disappointingly, has led to a tide of false rumors!

“There are people who have asked me on the national television sometimes, and it was a Hindi show, it was meant to be about a tie-up with another channel and something unsavory came my way, asking me very directly about my sexual orientation(gay) and I looked at him and said why are you interested? Because it was said in such a strange way,” said Karan Johar in an interview with Simi Garewal a while ago.

Further beating down rumors of his orientation, Karan Johar added, “Obviously if you are single, you are 39, there will be conjecture about your sexuality and your orientation, I have no problem with that, and I am very comfortable with hearing all kinds of rumors that float around, I am very comfortable with what people have to say, their perception of my orientation, what they think, what all they think I am part of, and I have no problem with the territory I can't be upset or angry about it.”

Not one to justify his silence and publicize his personal life, Karan Johar seems unaffected by the exploits of rumor-mongers, knowing full well that it’s just a part of being a celebrity!

Karan Johar’s Student of the Year stars Rishi Kapoor as a gay school dean!

Student of The Year

The film Student of the Year has drawn a load of attention on its release, launching three fresh new faces, Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. The film is the director’s fifth directorial venture after Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010). For Varun, Siddharth and Alia, Student of the Year is a dream debut indeed and has won the trio lots of acclaim and praises! Besides the fresh trio, this film also includes veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, Bollywood’s very own chocolate boy. 

The actor features as a gay Dean who has a soft corner on the school coach. Dean Yogendra Vasisht is an absolute delight and amusing character to watch and Rishi Kapoor’s excellent performance has been hugely appreciated. The character is believed to change the way gays are being portrayed. Speaking on the same Rishi Kapoor says, "Yes, the role is not a caricature in our film. Film characters depend on directors. In SOTY, it was a personal take by Karan, the director and Rishi, the actor."

According to Rishi Kapoor, it takes courage to suitably fit a gay character in a film. Karan Johar has certainly thought up his characters well. “It’s great victory for Karan, to make a film on this scale with newcomers. In today’s times, no one risks his money and position, especially at the stage where Karan is. It’s great for a man of his stature to spend enormous money on this film. He said his way of making a movie is the same, only the hero has changed. He has the guts, the gall to make a film with his vision, thinking. All the credit for SOTY goes to Karan.”

Catch Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Rishi Kapoor in Karan Johar’s most recent film, Student of the Year!