Alpha Movie Review: Alia Bhatt’s Action Avatar Fails to Rescue a Formulaic Spy Thriller

Team Maverick : Rating: 2/5

Hydrabad, July 2026 : With Alpha, the first female-led film in the YRF Spy Universe, expectations were naturally high. After the success of blockbuster entries like Ek Tha Tiger, Pathaan and Tiger 3, the franchise attempts to shift gears by placing Alia Bhatt at the centre of an espionage spectacle. Joining her is Sharvari, while Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor and Dia Mirza round out the supporting cast. Unfortunately, despite its ambitious premise and stylish visuals, Alpha struggles to rise above the weight of a predictable script and an overused spy formula.

Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha tries to blend high-octane action with themes of patriotism, revenge and female empowerment. The result, however, is a film that often feels more like a checklist of franchise tropes than a fresh addition to the expanding spy universe.

The story begins in the aftermath of the 1999 Kargil War. Colonel Fateh (Bobby Deol), a fiercely nationalistic military officer, develops a classified programme called Alpha, aimed at creating genetically enhanced super soldiers through an experimental serum. Approved by his mentor, R&AW chief Vikrant Kaul (Anil Kapoor), the project initially appears successful before the serum begins killing its test subjects.

The programme is eventually shut down, and Fateh is demoted to a remote military base in Cherrapunji. Refusing to abandon his obsession, he secretly continues his experiments. His greatest success is Sita (Alia Bhatt), the daughter of a woman who had been injected with the serum during pregnancy. Raised in isolation and trained to become the ultimate weapon, Sita grows up deprived of a normal childhood. As an adult, she turns against the man who created her, determined to reclaim her freedom and seek revenge.

While the premise carries potential, the storytelling never fully explores the emotional weight of Sita’s traumatic upbringing. Instead of allowing viewers to experience her transformation, the film relies heavily on exposition and repetitive flashbacks. Important emotional beats are summarised in quick montages rather than developed through meaningful scenes, making it difficult to connect with the protagonist’s journey.

The screenplay frequently explains rather than shows. Characters often narrate their own actions or emotions, leaving little room for subtlety or audience interpretation. The film repeatedly interrupts its narrative with flashbacks that attempt to fill gaps in the story, resulting in a fragmented viewing experience.

Mythological symbolism is also used rather mechanically. References comparing Sita to the epic heroine and Sharvari’s character, Durga, to a divine warrior feel forced rather than organically integrated into the narrative. These parallels add little emotional or thematic depth.

Visually, Alpha delivers polished production values expected from a Yash Raj Films production. Exotic locations, glossy cinematography and elaborate action sequences give the film an international look. However, many of its action set-pieces feel oddly familiar. Chase sequences, slow-motion shootouts and hand-to-hand combat often evoke memories of Hollywood franchises such as Mission: Impossible, The Matrix and even Tomb Raider.

Rather than establishing its own identity, the film appears content borrowing familiar action templates. The extensive use of slow motion attempts to amplify dramatic moments but often compensates for the lack of genuine emotional engagement. Even the background score fails to inject the adrenaline expected from a spy thriller of this scale.

Alia Bhatt commits wholeheartedly to the physically demanding role and convincingly handles the combat choreography. She brings determination and intensity to Sita, but the screenplay gives her little emotional complexity to work with. Much of her performance recalls her action-oriented role in Jigra, without offering significant evolution.

Sharvari, despite emerging as one of Bollywood’s promising young performers, receives surprisingly limited screen time. Her character, Durga, is largely confined to playing the energetic and supportive partner, leaving little opportunity to showcase her acting range. Even her introduction, complete with a flashy song sequence in Spain, feels more like a commercial music video than meaningful character development.

Bobby Deol delivers an adequately menacing performance as Colonel Fateh, although his fluctuating Haryanvi accent occasionally distracts from the character. Anil Kapoor lends authority to his role as the intelligence chief but is underutilised. Dia Mirza has little impact on the overall narrative.

One of the film’s biggest missed opportunities is its much-publicised cameo by Hrithik Roshan. Already revealed in promotional material, the appearance lacks surprise and ultimately contributes little beyond setting up future franchise instalments.

The film also suffers from highly predictable writing. Character motivations remain simplistic, dialogues rarely leave a lasting impression, and several emotional moments fail to resonate because the narrative never earns them. Despite being positioned as an empowering female-led action film, Alpha often substitutes genuine character development with stylised action and motivational slogans.

Following the disappointing reception of War 2, Alpha suggests that the YRF Spy Universe may be struggling with franchise fatigue. While the introduction of female protagonists is a welcome step towards broader representation, the film rarely feels like a necessary or innovative expansion of the series.

Unlike successful cinematic universes that balance spectacle with humour, memorable characters and emotional storytelling, Alpha remains largely mechanical. Its polished exterior cannot conceal a script that feels formulaic, derivative and emotionally hollow.

In the end, Alpha delivers occasional thrills and competent performances but lacks the originality and narrative depth needed to justify its place in the YRF Spy Universe. It is a technically polished action film that entertains in parts but ultimately feels more like another manufactured franchise product than a memorable cinematic experience. For fans of large-scale action spectacles, it may offer a few enjoyable moments, but those looking for a compelling spy thriller with heart are likely to come away disappointed.

Alpha – Cast Details

• Alia Bhatt as Sita – The genetically enhanced protagonist who seeks revenge against the man who raised and experimented on her.
• Sharvari as Durga – A skilled operative who joins forces with Sita on her mission.
• Bobby Deol as Colonel Fateh – The film’s primary antagonist and creator of the secret “Alpha” super-soldier programme.
• Anil Kapoor as Vikrant Kaul – The Chief of R&AW who oversees the Alpha project.
• Dia Mirza – Appears in a pivotal supporting role connected to the Alpha programme.
• Hrithik Roshan as Kabir Dhaliwal (special cameo) – Reprises his iconic YRF Spy Universe character in a brief appearance that links Alpha to the broader franchise.

The film is directed by Shiv Rawail and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films (YRF) banner as the first female-led installment in the YRF Spy Universe.

Disclaimer: This review is based on the reviewer’s individual perspective. Audience opinions may vary.

Disclaimer: Maverick News is not responsible for claims or statements made by external sources or individuals mentioned in this article.