Shanaya Kapoor is not sleeping due to nerves for Student of the Year After Dark, why watching murder mysteries gives her 'calm and peace' | Interview

Shanaya Kapoor says joining Student of the Year After Dark has brought a sense of responsibility rather than pressure. Although the project is a spinoff in a different genre, it carries the name of the established Student of the Year brand.

A responsibility, not pressure

Speaking about the project, Kapoor said she was not feeling pressured while coming on board. Instead, she described the experience as being aware of the importance of continuing something special.

“It’s a responsibility that we are all carrying,” she said, explaining that Karan sir had given the team the opportunity to carry the brand forward. Her comments suggest that the project’s connection to the existing franchise is central to how she views her role.

Creating a voice for Gen Z

Kapoor also said the team is not simply reproducing what came before. The project, she explained, is being made its own by giving it a voice for the current generation, particularly Gen Z.

That approach places the spinoff between continuity and reinvention: it retains the Student of the Year identity while seeking to express it through a different genre and a generational perspective. For Kapoor, the opportunity is therefore less about pressure and more about contributing to the next phase of the brand.

What Kapoor’s comments mean

Her remarks underline the balance facing the team behind After Dark. The project carries expectations associated with a known name, but its stated aim is to establish its own voice. Further details about the spinoff were not provided.