Director: Shiv Rawail
Rating: ***½
Released today in theatres, July 3, 2026, Alpha marks a historic shift for Yash Raj Films. As the seventh instalment in the YRF Spy Universe, the film proudly breaks away from the male-dominated frontline to deliver the franchise's very first female-led espionage thriller.
Directed by Shiv Rawail (The Railway Men) and featuring a story by Uday Chopra, this 140-minute action spectacle swaps out the glossy, invincible patriot tropes of Pathaan and Tiger for a darker, far more intimate anatomy of survival and revenge.
The Story & Script
Unlike its predecessors, which feature fully formed operatives acting on government orders, Alpha grounds its stakes in deep childhood trauma. The narrative follows Sita (Alia Bhatt), a young woman who was abducted as a child by the ruthless, imposing militant leader Fateh (Bobby Deol) and systematically conditioned to become a lethal black-ops weapon. To Fateh, an assignment is a routine birthday gift; to Sita, violence is the only upbringing she has ever known.
The script, co-written by Soumil Shukla, Shridhar Raghavan, and Ishita Moitra, shifts into high gear when Sita uncovers a massive, illicit soldier program helmed by her captor that threatens national security. Her mission transforms from blind obedience into a desperate, personal crusade for identity and justice. The narrative operates beautifully as a two-front war, forcing Sita to cross paths with another formidable assassin (played with sharp, fierce energy by Sharvari), turning the high-stakes national threat into a phenomenal, tightly wound game of survival.
Direction & Screenplay
Shiv Rawail brings a grounded, high-intensity directorial style that feels incredibly refreshing for the franchise. The screenplay relies heavily on psychological weight rather than just larger-than-life explosions. Rawail successfully captures the grueling physical and mental toll of being a trained killer.
While the second half does feature a few predictable spy-genre beats and a slightly standard narrative resolution, the film maintains a steady, ticking-clock momentum up to its final frame. Notably, the film features a grittier tone that earned it a UA 16+ certification, following mandated trims to its intense, visceral hand-to-hand combat sequences.
Performances
Alia Bhatt: In her biggest and most physically demanding action avatar to date, Alia delivers a spectacular, career-expanding performance. She masterfully captures the dual nature of Sita—a lethal, unyielding weapon on the outside who is quietly fracturing with emotional vulnerability on the inside.
Sharvari: Matching Alia step-for-step, Sharvari is the film's absolute scene-stealer. She brings an electric, raw, and highly confident screen presence to the action choreography, proving she is a legitimate action star in the making. The authentic, ego-free camaraderie between the two leads is the absolute heart of the movie.
Bobby Deol: Continuing his post-pandemic streak of playing terrifying antagonists, Bobby Deol is brilliant as Fateh. He brings a cold, regal authority to the screen, serving as a genuinely imposing physical and psychological threat to the main characters.
Anil Kapoor & Ensemble: Anil Kapoor adds a sharp, seasoned anchor to the espionage machinery, while Dibyendu Bhattacharya turns in a highly organic, stellar supporting performance that gives the bureaucratic side of the mission a lived-in feel.
Technical Craft: Action & Cameos
Action Choreography: The action set-pieces are sleek, fast-paced, and heavily reliant on brutal hand-to-hand combat and close-quarters tactical sequences that easily rival international Hollywood spectacles.
The Spyverse Connection: For long-time fans of the universe, the highly anticipated special appearance by Hrithik Roshan as Kabir acts as an absolute cinematic high-point, seamlessly binding the standalone narrative back into the broader, grand framework of the franchise.
Final Verdict
Alpha is a phenomenal, triumphant milestone that successfully breathes fresh, emotional life into the YRF Spy Universe. By prioritizing intimate character arcs and psychological depth over generic, loud patriotism, it establishes a thrilling new blueprint for the franchise. Driven by powerhouse performances from Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, it is an absolute must-watch theatrical event for action purists.
