Alpha Movie Review: Is Alia Bhatt and Sharvari’s Spy Thriller Worth Your Money?

Alia Bhatt and Sharvari headline YRF's first female-led Spy Universe film, but does Alpha deliver? Here's our full review, ratings, cast breakdown and Day 1 box office numbers.

The official poster of Alpha showcases Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as twin assassins in YRF’s first female-led Spy Universe film.

Alpha movie review is what everyone’s searching for right now, and for good reason. Directed by Shiv Rawail in his feature debut and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, Alpha is the seventh installment in the YRF Spy Universe.

The film has arrived with one big talking point — it’s the franchise’s first attempt at putting two women at the centre of the action, and fans wanted to know if Alia Bhatt and Sharvari could carry that weight.

The story follows an assassin trying to bring down her stepfather’s illegal soldier program, only to clash with another assassin along the way. Alpha released in theatres on 3 July 2026, after being pushed back multiple times from its original Christmas 2025 date.

Alpha Movie Review Quick Info

Peddler Media Rating: ⭐⭐ 2.5/5

Star Cast: Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Hrithik Roshan (cameo), Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Dia Mirza & others

Director: Shiv Rawail

What’s Good: Alia Bhatt’s screen presence, a few well-shot action sequences

What’s Bad: Weak writing, flat character arcs, Hrithik Roshan underused

Watch or Not?: Only if you’re a die-hard Spy Universe fan

Language: Hindi (also released in Telugu, Tamil)

Available On: Theatres

Runtime: Approx. 2 Hours 20 Minutes

Alpha Movie Review: Story

The plot revolves around twin sisters Sita and Durga, separated right after birth following an unfortunate hospital incident. Sita, played by Alia Bhatt, grows up as a trained soldier working for Fateh Singh Lakhawat (Bobby Deol), while their real father, R&AW chief Colonel Vikrant Kaul (Anil Kapoor), believes his elder daughter is dead. Gulte

The film keeps circling around a mysterious “Alpha serum” that’s central to Fateh’s illegal soldier program, and the reveal ties directly into why Sita eventually turns against the man who raised her.

Alpha Movie Review: Critics

Early reviews have not been kind. Alpha opened to negative reviews from both critics and audiences, with most reviewers pointing at the writing as the biggest letdown. Reviewers have compared it unfavourably to Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar The Revenge, noting that Shiv Rawail’s film leans on style and gloss rather than the raw, grounded feel that made those films work.

One outlet pegged the overall rating at an average of 2.5 out of 5, calling the reception mixed to negative. The general consensus: the action holds up in patches, but the emotional core of the film never lands.

Alpha Movie Review: Cast Performance

Sharvari and Alia Bhatt in an emotional, tear-filled scene from Alpha movie showing the twin sisters' bond
Sharvari as Durga and Alia Bhatt as Sita share a raw, emotional moment in Alpha, highlighting the sisterly bond at the heart of the film.

Alia Bhatt

Alia comes out as the film’s strongest asset. Her screen presence and performance stand out as the biggest saving grace, with her action sequences described as genuinely convincing.

Sharvari

Sharvari continues her strong run after Main Vaapas Aaunga, balancing the emotional and action sides of her character well, and her chemistry with Alia is a highlight.

Bobby Deol & Anil Kapoor

Bobby Deol has presence but doesn’t quite recreate the impact he had as the villain in Animal, while Anil Kapoor’s performance is described as passable but unremarkable.

Alpha movie review:- Anil Kapoor as Colonel Vikrant Kaul and Bobby Deol as Fateh Singh Lakhawat in a tense still from Alpha movie
A split still from Alpha showing Anil Kapoor’s Colonel Vikrant Kaul and Bobby Deol’s Fateh Singh Lakhawat, two key figures behind the film’s central conflict.

Hrithik Roshan

His cameo as Kabir Dhaliwal from the War films has been called wasted, with critics feeling he barely gets anything meaningful to do.

Alpha Movie Review: Collection Day 1

Alpha opened to a decent start, collecting around Rs 6.25 crore net on its opening day across the Indian box office, according to trade tracker Sacnilk. The film ran across 6,490 shows in India, and its India gross was estimated at around Rs 7.38 crore.

Hrithik Roshan's eyes in a close-up trailer glimpse of his Kabir Dhaliwal cameo in Alpha movie
A close-up from the Alpha trailer teases Hrithik Roshan’s brief return as Kabir Dhaliwal, reprising his War franchise character.

The Day 1 worldwide collection was estimated at around Rs 16 crore. Morning occupancy stood at 9.92%, putting Alpha behind Cocktail 2 and outside the top 5 morning occupancies of 2026.

Is Alpha Better Than Dhurandhar?

Short answer — no. Alpha had all the scale YRF is known for, but critics agree it doesn’t come close to matching the grounded intensity of the Dhurandhar films. The comparison has followed the film into every review, and it’s clearly working against Alpha at the box office.

Also Read:- Did Rakesh Bedi Really Get ₹1 Crore for Dhurandhar? His Response Is Viral!

Alpha Movie Review: Peddler Media Verdict

Peddler Media Rating: ⭐⭐ 2.5/5

Alpha promised YRF’s first female-led spy thriller and delivered a film that looks the part but doesn’t quite hold together on writing. Alia Bhatt and Sharvari carry it as far as two performances can, but a weak script and an underused Hrithik Roshan hold it back.

If you’re a Spy Universe completionist, go for it. Otherwise, this one can wait for OTT.

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