Alpha Movie Review: Alia Bhatt, Sharvari Deliver Strong Performances But Weak Story Hurts YRF Spy Universe

Alpha Movie Review: Alia Bhatt and Sharvari impress with action-packed performances, but weak writing and a predictable story prevent the YRF spy thriller from reaching its full potential.

Jul 3, 2026 - 13:57
Alpha Movie Review: Alia Bhatt, Sharvari Deliver Strong Performances But Weak Story Hurts YRF Spy Universe

After months of anticipation, Alpha, the first female-led film in the YRF Spy Universe, has finally arrived in theatres. Featuring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as elite agents, the film promised to expand one of Bollywood's most successful action franchises with fresh characters and high-octane espionage. With supporting performances from Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor, Dia Mirza, and a special appearance by Hrithik Roshan, expectations were naturally sky-high.

Unfortunately, despite impressive action choreography and committed performances from its lead actors, Alpha struggles to deliver a compelling spy thriller. While visually polished and technically ambitious, the film suffers from predictable storytelling, underdeveloped characters, and a screenplay that rarely surprises.

Alia Bhatt Impresses As Alpha

Alia Bhatt once again proves why she remains one of Bollywood's most dependable performers. As Alpha, a highly trained intelligence operative, she brings intensity, confidence, and emotional depth to a role that demands both physical endurance and dramatic restraint.

Her action sequences are convincing, and she performs many of the demanding combat scenes with remarkable energy. Despite her relatively small frame, Alia successfully portrays a fearless operative capable of handling dangerous missions and brutal hand-to-hand combat.

However, while her performance remains one of the film's strongest aspects, the screenplay rarely gives her enough emotional material to fully explore the character.

Sharvari Delivers A Confident Performance

Sharvari complements Alia Bhatt effectively as Alpha's trusted partner. She receives several solo action sequences that showcase her athletic ability and screen presence.

Throughout the film, Sharvari appears comfortable handling both action and emotional moments, establishing herself as a capable addition to the YRF Spy Universe.

Although her role could have been developed further, she leaves a positive impression and shares good chemistry with Alia during their joint missions.

Supporting Cast Adds Star Power

The supporting cast includes several experienced actors who elevate individual moments despite limited screen time.

Bobby Deol plays Fateh Singh, the decorated soldier responsible for training Alpha into an elite operative. His commanding screen presence adds weight to the military backdrop.

Anil Kapoor portrays the RAW chief, guiding Alpha through complex intelligence operations while attempting to protect her from hidden enemies.

Dia Mirza appears briefly but delivers one of the film's most emotionally effective performances as Alpha's mother.

Towards the climax, Hrithik Roshan returns as Kabir, making a special appearance that connects Alpha to the larger YRF Spy Universe.

Story Feels Familiar

The biggest weakness of Alpha lies in its screenplay.

Instead of offering a fresh espionage narrative, the film relies heavily on familiar Bollywood spy formulas. Secret missions, Pakistani operatives, undercover agents, intelligence headquarters, military briefings, and patriotic themes all unfold in predictable fashion.

The storyline frequently reminds viewers of several previous action thrillers without introducing enough originality to distinguish itself.

While the film clearly attempts to build suspense, many plot developments become easy to anticipate long before they happen.

Action Sequences Are Well Executed

One area where Alpha consistently succeeds is action.

The hand-to-hand combat scenes are stylishly choreographed, and the gunfights maintain strong visual energy throughout the film.

Several chase sequences across different Indian landscapes are filmed impressively, making excellent use of locations including Rajasthan, Ladakh, Kashmir, and Cherrapunji.

The production values remain consistently high, reflecting the scale audiences have come to expect from YRF's spy franchise.

Visuals And Locations Stand Out

Director Shiv Rawail deserves credit for presenting Alpha as a visually appealing cinematic experience.

From mist-covered landscapes in Northeast India to military operations across mountainous terrain, the film features several impressive visual moments.

The cinematography successfully captures both large-scale action and quieter emotional scenes, helping maintain audience engagement even when the screenplay slows down.

The Screenplay Holds The Film Back

Despite its impressive cast and production quality, Alpha struggles because of its writing.

Dialogue often feels generic, emotional conflicts are underdeveloped, and several character motivations lack proper explanation.

Instead of building tension naturally, the screenplay moves rapidly from one action sequence to another without allowing viewers to emotionally invest in the characters.

Even the family drama surrounding Alpha feels rushed and occasionally disconnected from the main espionage storyline.

Hrithik Roshan's Cameo Adds Excitement

One of the biggest crowd-pleasing moments arrives with Hrithik Roshan's return as Kabir.

His brief appearance strengthens the connection between Alpha and the broader YRF Spy Universe while providing fans with an exciting crossover.

Although his role is relatively short, his action sequence with Alia and Sharvari delivers some of the film's most entertaining moments.

Fans of War and the YRF Spy Universe will likely appreciate this surprise appearance.

Direction And Overall Verdict

Director Shiv Rawail successfully handles the film's large-scale action and maintains an impressive visual presentation. However, the lack of a stronger screenplay ultimately limits the film's overall impact.

Alpha had the opportunity to introduce a refreshing female-led chapter within the YRF Spy Universe but instead relies too heavily on familiar spy movie conventions.

While Alia Bhatt and Sharvari deliver sincere performances and the action sequences remain enjoyable, the predictable story prevents Alpha from becoming the memorable spy thriller it set out to be.

Final Verdict

Alpha offers stylish action, strong performances, and impressive production quality, but its uninspired screenplay and familiar narrative hold it back from joining the best films in the YRF Spy Universe.

Fans of Bollywood action films may still enjoy the large-scale set pieces and franchise connections, but viewers expecting a fresh, intelligent spy thriller may leave wanting more.