Digital Debut for YRF's Female-Led Spy Thriller
Alia Bhatt and Sharvari's action thriller Alpha is set to make its streaming debut on Netflix, according to reports. The film, which marks the first female-driven instalment in Yash Raj Films' popular Spy Universe, premiered in theatres on July 3. Despite initial speculation that multiple delays might push the film to a direct-to-digital release, it ultimately had a theatrical run before heading to OTT.
Per a 123Telugu report, Alpha will premiere on Netflix on August 28, 2026, in Hindi, with no official confirmation yet about dubbed versions. The economic times noted that the digital release offers the film an opportunity to reach viewers who missed it in cinemas, though an official announcement from the platform or makers is still awaited.
The Assassin Origin Story
Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha is described as the first assassin origin story in the Spy Universe. Alia Bhatt plays Sita, while Sharvari plays Durga, both trained as highly skilled Alpha soldiers. The plot, as outlined by Times Now, centres on Colonel Fateh Singh Lakhawat, played by Bobby Deol, whose experiment with the Alpha serum goes wrong and kills R&AW Chief Vikrant Kaul's wife. He then uses Vikrant's daughter as a guinea pig, raising her as an emotionless killing machine. Sita, trained to become an Alpha soldier with extraordinary abilities, eventually learns of Fateh's ulterior motives against India and vows to kill him, joined by another Alpha woman with a special connection to her.
Anil Kapoor appears as R&AW Chief Vikrant Kaul, with Hrithik Roshan in a special cameo as Major Kabir Dhaliwal and Dia Mirza in a special role.
Box Office Performance and Franchise Context
Alpha concluded its theatrical run with a worldwide gross of around Rs 100.16 crore, according to data from Sacnilk.com as cited by The Economic Times. The publication described the film's theatrical performance as underwhelming, noting it struggled at the box office despite its franchise connection and star cast. It is reportedly the lowest-grossing film in YRF's Spy Universe.
The movie is the seventh instalment in the franchise, which began with Ek Tha Tiger and was followed by Tiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan, Tiger 3, and War 2. Reports also indicate that Alia Bhatt and Sharvari are expected to appear in upcoming franchise films, including Pathaan 2 and War 3.
Streaming Plans and Future
YRF previously released War 2 on Netflix, while titles like Pathaan, Tiger 3, and Ek Tha Tiger are available on Amazon Prime Video. With Alpha heading to Netflix, the film is expected to find a wider audience through streaming, as The Economic Times noted that the digital debut is a milestone for the Spy Universe, focusing on female spies to broaden its appeal.