- By Swati Singh
- Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:43 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Alpha, the upcoming addition to Yash Raj Films’ popular Spy Universe, stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in the lead roles and is set to become the franchise’s first women-led spy thriller. The film also features Bobby Deol in a key role, with his brief glimpse already revealed in War 2. As excitement around the project continues to build, fresh reports suggest that Alpha might skip a traditional theatrical release altogether, opting for a different distribution strategy.
According to a source quoted by Deccan Chronicle, producer Aditya Chopra had initially envisioned the film as a major boost for the female-led action genre, following the success of the Mardaani franchise. His aim was to position Alpha as a powerful 'Shero' film for Alia Bhatt, strengthening the presence of women-centric narratives within YRF’s ambitious Spy Universe.
The source further added, "But with Mardaani 3 underperforming and the Spy Universe taking a beating with War 2, Alpha is now a suspended project at Yashraj." If the reports are to be believed, Alpha is possibly optiong for an OTT release, but Alia Bhatt is not in favour of it.
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In 2025, Alia Bhatt spoke about Alpha at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah. As quoted by Deadline, she had said, "Alpha is the first female-led action film from the YRF universe, so that’s also a risk, because you’ve not historically seen that perform in the same way that the other male-led films have performed."
The film, originally scheduled for a Christmas 2025 release, has now been postponed to next year and will hit theatres on April 17, 2026. Yash Raj Films confirmed the delay, stating that additional time is required to complete the VFX and ensure the movie is presented in its best visual form.
A YRF spokesperson spoke about the date shift, stating, "Alpha is an extremely special film for us, and we want to present the film in its most cinematic self. We have realised that the VFX will take a little longer than we had initially assumed. We want to leave no stone unturned to make Alpha into a theatrical experience for everyone to cherish. Thus, we will now release the film on April 17, 2026."