YRF’s Alpha begins with an interesting premise set immediately after the Kargil War on July 27, 1999. The story revolves around three key characters. Anil Kapoor plays RA&W chief Vikrant Kaul, Bobby Deol takes on the dual roles of Lt. Colonel Fateh Singh Lakhawat and Major Zarrar Khan, while Alia Bhatt enters the narrative as Sita and is later joined by Sharvari as Durga. What starts as Colonel Fateh Singh Lakhawat’s (Bobby Deol) secret mission called Alpha following the loss of Indian soldiers gradually unfolds across decades. The setup promises an engaging spy thriller, but as the story (Uday Chopra) progresses, it loses focus and settles into a familiar pattern filled with predictable twists and routine clichés.
Anil Kapoor lends credibility to his role with his usual commanding screen presence. Dia Mirza appears as his wife Janaki, who is diagnosed with congenital heart disease during pregnancy and dies after giving birth. Her character and the revelations surrounding the family are meant to add emotional depth, but most of these developments feel more functional than moving. As more twists unfold, they become increasingly easy to anticipate instead of creating genuine suspense.
The film looks visually polished. The cinematography remains consistently sharp and stylish throughout, while the background score does its best to inject energy into scenes that otherwise struggle because of the weak writing. The narrative begins at a steady pace and manages to hold attention initially, but the momentum comes to a halt with Durga’s introductory song, which feels completely out of place in a film trying to establish itself as a serious spy thriller.
Action occupies a major portion of Alpha. The sequences are slick, energetic and well choreographed, but they rarely carry any logic or narrative weight. Spectacle takes precedence over substance. The film also throws in off-road biking sequences that exist purely for style. Even the costume design raises questions. Despite constantly being on the run with barely any luggage, Sita and Durga somehow appear in a fresh set of perfectly styled outfits every few scenes, making the situations feel even more artificial.
One of the biggest disappointments is the inclusion of Hrithik Roshan’s Kabir. His appearance is presented as a major surprise, but it neither serves the story nor does justice to the character.
The treatment of Kabir further exposes the film’s dependence on the larger YRF Spy Universe. In one particular sequence, a group of heavily armed mercenaries confidently moves in to attack Sita, Durga and Kabir. The moment one of them catches sight of Kabir, panic sets in and they immediately retreat, shouting, “He is Kabir,” almost as if they have encountered an unstoppable legend rather than a fellow spy. The scene is clearly designed to celebrate the legend of Kabir, but it comes across as exaggerated and unintentionally amusing.
It feels less like an organic narrative choice and more like another attempt by YRF to keep connecting every film within its Spy Universe. Hrithik Roshan delivers his part with ease, but his presence changes nothing in the larger scheme of the story.
The film also gets distracted by unnecessary emotional detours. What initially appears to be a taut espionage thriller slowly transforms into a routine family drama. A lengthy sequence involving Durga offering their mother’s ring to Sita is designed to create an emotional moment, but it adds little to the narrative. Ironically, Sita herself is written as an emotionally detached character, making the entire scene feel forced rather than heartfelt.
Much of Alpha feels like a carefully designed vehicle to establish Alia Bhatt as a powerful action star. The film succeeds in making her look capable, fearless and physically convincing in combat. However, beyond showcasing her abilities, it fails to build a compelling story around her. The screenplay keeps placing style above storytelling, leaving very little emotional or dramatic substance behind.
The post-interval twists hardly surprise. The teaser had already hinted at the direction the story would take, while the trailer revealed almost everything it possibly could. By the time the so-called revelations arrive, they feel expected rather than shocking. Another noticeable creative choice is the repeated use of rain during almost every major dramatic moment. Whether it is the director’s preference or the art department’s visual motif, the recurring rain eventually begins to feel repetitive instead of impactful.
Alpha is not an outright poor film. It has scale, polished visuals, energetic action and two committed performances from Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. Both actresses are likely to benefit from the film and add a credible action title to their filmographies. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for YRF. For a studio that has delivered some of Hindi cinema’s most memorable spy entertainers, Alpha never rises above being an average, over-stylised action thriller. It may strengthen the careers of its leading ladies, but it is unlikely to be remembered as one of YRF’s defining films.
Movie: Alpha
Directed by: Shiv Rawail
Story: Uday Chopra
Featuring: Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Dibyendu Bhattacharya
Action Directors: Craig Mcrae, Sunil Rodrigues
Music: Rohansh and Abeer
Theatrical Release Date: July 3, 2026
Run Time: 2hrs 20mins
Alpha
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