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Alpha movie review: Alia Bhatt powers through an entertaining but familiar spy spectacle

Alia Bhatt impresses with her action-packed performance in Alpha, but a predictable script and familiar superhero-inspired narrative stop the YRF Spy Universe film from becoming truly memorable.

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Alpha review

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.

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Emraan Hashmi returns as Shivam in Awarapan 2 teaser, revives nostalgia after 19 years

Emraan Hashmi is back as Shivam in Awarapan 2. The teaser, released on the original film’s anniversary, offers a nostalgic yet fresh look at the sequel.

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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:

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Tamannaah Bhatia reflects on her entrepreneurial journey and the true meaning of wealth creation

Actor-entrepreneur Tamannaah Bhatia reveals why her approach to wealth creation focuses on scaling impact and creating value rather than just accumulating money.

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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.

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Chef Sanjeev Kapoor reveals how he finally agreed to join MasterChef India season 3

Renowned chef Sanjeev Kapoor opened up about repeatedly rejecting MasterChef India in its early seasons because producers wouldn’t pay him more than actor Akshay Kumar.

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Veteran chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who has spent decades teaching India how to cook through iconic shows like Khana Khazana, recently shared a little-known story from his career. During an appearance on journalist Vir Sanghvi’s podcast Culinary Culture, Kapoor revealed that he repeatedly turned down the offer to host the popular cooking reality show MasterChef India during its initial seasons. The reason behind his refusal was a unique payment condition: he wanted to be compensated more than Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar.

The symbolic condition that stalled his entry

According to Kapoor, the show’s producers had been approaching him since its very first season. While most professionals would readily accept such an opportunity, Kapoor did the exact opposite because the makers initially refused to meet his specific condition.

“I told them that if you want me on the show, you have to pay me more than Akshay Kumar,” Kapoor recalled during the podcast.

Clarifying his stance, the culinary expert explained that his demand was never about the money itself. Instead, requesting an extra rupee was a symbolic gesture aimed at securing professional recognition and respect for his expertise in the culinary field. When the show’s producers refused to comply with this demand during the early stages, Kapoor firmly declined the project, stating, “I am not coming. I will not do it.”

A change of stance in season 3

The deadlock eventually broke when the makers approached him again while preparing for the third season of MasterChef India. This time around, the producers felt his presence was absolutely necessary for the show’s success. Kapoor remembered being told that it would be a major setback if the MasterChef format failed to succeed in India. Understanding his value, the producers ultimately accepted his condition for the third season, and Kapoor confirmed that they paid him more than everyone else.

How social media reacted to the revelation

After video clips from the podcast circulated online, internet users largely supported the chef’s historical stance. Many commentators pointed out that his demand was not a reflection of arrogance, but rather a justified move to protect the dignity of his profession.

Social media users noted that a specialized cooking show should naturally position a culinary expert ahead of a mainstream actor in terms of authority and financial compensation. One user commented that an actor earning more than a professional chef on a culinary show is not a positive sign, while another praised Kapoor for knowing his worth and maintaining humility by demanding just Re 1 more rather than an exorbitant amount.

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