Shiv Rawail's directorial action thriller Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol in the lead roles, was released in theatres on 3 July 2026. The story revolves around Sita, an elite assassin trained by Colonel Fateh using the powerful Alpha serum, who turns rogue after uncovering the shocking truth about her past.
As she crosses paths with Durga and RAW chief Kaul, long-buried secrets and emotional wounds resurface, leading to a high-stakes confrontation that tests loyalty, identity, and patriotism. The character of Sita was portrayed by Alia Bhatt, Durga by Sharvari, Colonel Fateh by Bobby Deol, and RAW chief Kaul by Anil Kapoor.
The YRF Spy Universe started witnessing a decline after the release of Tiger 3, directed by Maneesh Sharma and starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Emraan Hashmi in the lead roles. The film did not perform at the box office as per expectations. This downward trend continued with the next installment,
War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji and starring Hrithik Roshan, N. T. Rama Rao Jr., and Kiara Advani in the lead roles. Despite the presence of superstars like Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, and N. T. Rama Rao Jr., both films failed to impress a large section of the audience.
One possible reason for the recent decline is that the YRF Spy Universe has focused heavily on grand scale and action while paying comparatively less attention to storytelling and emotional depth. As a result, many viewers have found similarities in the themes of these films, with several action sequences drawing comparisons to Hollywood productions.
This is where Dhurandhar appears to make a difference. It felt more realistic, more believable, and connected with audiences on an emotional level, which helped it perform strongly at the box office and win audience appreciation. However, it is also worth noting that audience interest in the
YRF Spy Universe had already started declining even before Dhurandhar was released. I appreciate Yash Raj Films for experimenting with a new director and a female-led spy film. Let's take a look at Shiv Rawail's journey. He made his directorial debut with the YRF Entertainment series The Railway Men (2023), which impressed viewers with its execution. He also worked as an assistant director on several YRF projects, including Fan (2016), Befikre (2016), and Dhoom: 3 (2013), among others.
Alpha marked his big-screen directorial debut. While he may not have had prior experience directing a big-budget action thriller, many expected him to recreate the engaging storytelling he delivered in The Railway Men. However, that did not happen with Alpha. At 2 hours and 20 minutes, the film felt unnecessarily stretched and could have been wrapped up within two hours. The songs also failed to leave an impact.
Yash Raj Films now needs to regroup and plan something fresh. Whether that involves introducing new characters, collaborating with new directors, or taking the franchise in a different creative direction, the primary focus should be on stronger storytelling that feels grounded and believable rather than relying mainly on scale and action. Today, star power alone is rarely enough. If the content fails to connect with audiences emotionally, big names may generate a strong opening, but they cannot sustain a film's long-term success.
Highs of Alpha:
- Hrithik Roshan's cameo as Major Kabir Dhaliwal
- Action sequence between Alia Bhatt and Sharvari
- Action sequence featuring Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, and Sharvari
- Bobby Deol's performance
- First 45 minutes
- Background score during Hrithik Roshan's entry
Lows of Alpha:
- Second half
- Weak emotional depth
- Climax action sequence
- Twist
- Songs
- Screenplay
- Runtime
Rating: 5/10
.jfif "Alpha Movie Review-Alia Bhatt, Sharvari")
Has Dhurandhar destroyed Alpha?
There has been a discussion on social media that Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar has not only overshadowed Alpha but has also damaged the YRF Spy Universe. We discussed this in the analysis above, and it is worth noting that audience interest in the YRF Spy Universe had already started declining even before Dhurandhar was released.
Therefore, I don't feel that Dhurandhar was responsible for the poor response to Alpha. Audience interests change over time, and this is nothing new. It has happened in the past and will continue to happen in the future. With so many films being released, there comes a point when audiences get bored of watching films with similar themes, especially when there is a lack of focus on storytelling and emotional depth.
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