The YRF Spy Universe expands once again with Alpha, marking the franchise’s first female-led action film. After years of male spies dominating the cinematic universe, Alia Bhatt steps into the spotlight as Sita, a genetically enhanced operative entrusted with carrying an ambitious action entertainer almost entirely on her shoulders. While the actor succeeds in making the character memorable through her energetic screen presence and committed action performance, the film’s predictable storyline prevents it from reaching its full potential.

Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha combines large-scale action, espionage and superhero-style storytelling. However, despite its impressive visuals and action choreography, the film struggles to offer a fresh narrative in an increasingly crowded spy franchise.

Alia Bhatt delivers one of the film’s biggest strengths

Alia Bhatt undergoes a convincing physical transformation for the role and brings an expressive quality rarely seen in mainstream action heroes. Instead of maintaining a stoic expression throughout combat sequences, she allows her emotions to surface, making every confrontation feel personal.

Her character, Sita, balances confidence, wit and emotional vulnerability. As an orphan raised under extraordinary circumstances, she carries emotional scars beneath her fearless exterior, and Alia effectively captures both sides of the character.

The emotional depth she adds helps elevate scenes that otherwise rely heavily on stylised action.

Familiar story limits the excitement

Despite its promising premise, Alpha follows a storyline that feels heavily inspired by familiar superhero films. Written by Uday Chopra, Shridhar Raghavan and Ishita Moitra, the narrative blends elements of Indian mythology with comic-book style storytelling but offers few genuine surprises.

The story follows Fateh, played by Bobby Deol, a military officer who develops a secret project to create genetically enhanced super soldiers using a serum known as Alpha. After the experiment fails, circumstances lead to the serum being injected into the unborn daughter of Kaul’s wife, altering the child’s genetics before birth.

That child eventually grows up to become Sita, a highly trained operative raised under Fateh’s control.

While the concept has potential, much of the film’s central mystery is revealed through its promotional campaign, leaving only a few surprises for audiences during the actual film.

Action sequences remain consistently engaging

Where Alpha truly succeeds is in its action. The hand-to-hand combat sequences are choreographed with intensity and supported by an energetic background score that keeps the momentum alive.

Sharvari proves to be an equally capable action performer, matching Alia’s intensity in both emotional and combat scenes. Their chemistry suggests an engaging partnership, although the screenplay does not spend enough time exploring their relationship before moving on to larger action set-pieces involving gunfights and helicopters.

Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor add dramatic weight

The supporting cast significantly strengthens the film.

Bobby Deol makes a commanding antagonist whose calm demeanour contrasts effectively with sudden bursts of violence. His restrained performance makes Fateh an intimidating villain, although the screenplay stops short of giving him a deeper emotional backstory.

Anil Kapoor also leaves a solid impression as Kaul, bringing authority and emotional conviction to his scenes. Together, both actors provide much-needed dramatic weight that helps compensate for the screenplay’s shortcomings.

Verdict

Alpha delivers polished action, committed performances and slick production values, but its familiar superhero-inspired plot prevents it from becoming one of the strongest entries in the YRF Spy Universe. Alia Bhatt leads confidently, Sharvari proves to be an impressive action partner, while Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor elevate the material whenever they appear. However, the franchise may need fresher storytelling if it hopes to keep audiences invested beyond the spectacle.

Watch official Trailer:

The much-awaited teaser of Awarapan 2 has finally been unveiled, bringing back Emraan Hashmi as Shivam nearly 19 years after the release of the original film. Released on the anniversary of the 2007 cult classic, the teaser offers a glimpse into the emotional and action-packed journey awaiting fans in the sequel.

The teaser opens with Shivam revisiting the grave of Aaliyah, the character portrayed by Shriya Saran in the first film. Emraan’s character reflects on his long association with pain, setting a sombre and emotional tone for the sequel. Dark visuals, intense narration and flashes of action hint at an unfinished story that continues years later.

Teaser blends nostalgia with a fresh chapter

The teaser heavily leans on nostalgia, featuring a reprised version of the popular track Toh Phir Aao, a song that remains closely associated with the original film. The emotional background score, coupled with Shivam’s return, has already generated excitement among fans.

Apart from Emraan Hashmi, the sequel also stars Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi in key roles. Both actors make brief appearances in the teaser, hinting at their significance in the new storyline.

Sharing the teaser, the makers wrote that the long wait for Shivam’s return has finally ended, acknowledging the fan support that kept the story alive over the years.

The original Awarapan, directed by Mohit Suri and released in 2007, did not perform strongly at the box office initially but gradually attained cult status, largely due to its music and emotional storytelling. The sequel, produced by Vishesh Films and directed by Nitin Kakkar, is scheduled to hit theatres on August 14, 2026.

Awarapan 2 Official Teaser:

Actor and entrepreneur Tamannaah Bhatia has shared insights into her evolving philosophy regarding money and business growth, emphasizing that her primary drive centers on creating real impact rather than simply accumulating material assets. The actor, who made her acting debut at the young age of 15 in the 2005 film Chand Sa Roshan Chehra and later starred in the Telugu film Sree, has expanded her professional horizons significantly over the years.

In 2026, she ventured further into business by introducing her everyday luxury label, Tamannaah Fine Jewellery. While speaking to a media outlet, the entrepreneur discussed how her perspective on business and financial growth has shaped her career choices.

A focus on scale, influence, and giving back

Reflecting on her current journey, Bhatia pointed out that financial accumulation has its limits due to marginal utility. She stated that her true motivation lies in the actual process of generating value, shaping a distinct identity, and building something substantial. For her, focusing purely on a grander vision naturally leads to financial success.

“I feel like if you don’t scale, it is just a disservice to the vision itself,” Bhatia said during the interview, highlighting that scaling up allows her to establish a wider reach and influence, which brings her fulfillment. She further explained that philanthropy and giving back to society should not be treated as a one-time event delayed for the future, but rather as an ongoing effort integrated directly into the process of building a business.

A multi-faceted career path

Bhatia’s career spans nearly 90 films across the Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu film industries, including major projects like Baahubali, Oopiri, and Aranmanai 4. Beyond traditional cinema, she has found success with popular musical numbers and has transitioned effectively into streaming platforms, headlining several OTT projects such as Jee Karda, Aakhiri Sach, and Do You Wanna Partner.

According to reports, her net worth stands above Rs 100 crore, supported by her extensive acting commitments, brand endorsements, and business ventures. Her personal assets include a sea-facing apartment in Mumbai featuring unique elements like a specialized aquarium and a spacious balcony jacuzzi.