The stars were born: Alia, Varun and Sidharth! SOTY completes six years today

By Rohit Bhatnagar

on October 19, 2018

In 2012, it was the rise of two-star kids Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan, who have seen the personnel of the film industry since there childhood in Karan Johar’s directorial Student of The Year. Along with these two young talents, Karan also launched Sidharth Malhotra, a Delhi boy, who also assisted him during the making of My Name Is Khan along with Varun.

[caption id="attachment_152754" align="alignnone" width="670"] A still from the film[/caption]

Student of The Year is a stylish, glossy and a typical high school romantic drama which had every possible ingredient to woo the audiences. Speedy cars, peppy music, stunning costumes, jaw-dropping locations and a lot more. The film also starred Rishi Kapoor, who played the role of a gay dean, Ram Kapoor, Gautami Kapoor, Ronit Roy, Kayoze Irani, Sana Saeed along with Kajol, who did a cameo in the song Disco Deewane. Having a high production cost, the recovery of the film was at stake since it starred three newcomers but the film garnered thunderous response at the box office.

In January 2011, Karan announced the film with these young brigades and the film went on floors in August 2011. It was extensively shot in Kashmir, Dehradun and few portions in Thailand too. Karan left no stone unturned in the production of the film. He even hired Rob Miller to direct sports action of the film, who earlier helmed sports sequences in Shah Rukh Khan’s Chak De! India.

[caption id="attachment_152757" align="alignnone" width="700"] Poster of the film[/caption]

Although Alia Bhatt’s first big screen appearance happened with her home productions Sangharsh in 1999 where she played young Preity Zinta, she marked her grand debut with SOTY. The elder daughter of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan, who was a little plump, had auditioned for Student of The Year in 2010.

According to an audition video released by Dharma Productions, Karan felt that Alia had some spark in her. She danced on Bahara, a song from I Hate Luv Storys featuring Sonam Kapoor and Imran Khan. She also enacted Konkona Sen Sharma’s role from Wake Up Sid. Her launch was planned in a grand manner. Even Karan’s closest friend and a popular fashion designer Manish Malhotra was also in praises for this newbie. Being from a film family, Alia came prepared and hit the right chord with the audiences. She was loved by all and promised a bright future in Bollywood. And… rest is a history! Post her majestic debut; Alia went onto do powerful roles in Highway, Udta Punjab, Kapoor & Sons, Raazi and many more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHQyc-dOA_o

On the other hand, Varun Dhawan, son of noted filmmaker David Dhawan couldn’t have asked for a better debut that SOTY. After finishing his management studies from Nottingham Trent University, he assisted Karan Johar in My Name Is Khan. Post which, he underwent training for his striking debut in this teen drama. Followed by which he not only carved his niche in the industry but also made an impact by doing diverse roles in Badlapur, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya, October and recently Sui Dhaaga: Made In India.

[caption id="attachment_152760" align="aligncenter" width="524"] A still from the film[/caption]

Originally hails from Delhi, Sidharth Malhotra started off as a model at the age of 18 but later switched to Bollywood and joined Karan Johar as an assistant director. He is often termed as Karan’s blue-eyed boy as he did a series of Dharma films post his debut - Hasee Toh Phasee, Brothers, Kapoor & Sons, Baar Baar Dekho and Ittefaq.

Producer-director Karan Johar is known for making romantic family dramas. With great ensemble star-cast, melodious music, emotion quotient, magnanimous sets, and what not… Right from his directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998, he helmed multi-starrer Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in 2001. After the gap of five long years, Karan brought us the sensitive issue of infidelity to the big screen with Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna in 2006. In 2010, he reunited evergreen couple Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in My Name Is Khan set at the backdrop of 9/11 attacks in New York.

We wish team SOTY a happy sixth anniversary!