Starring Alia Bhatt & Sharvari in the lead roles, the Shiv Rawail directorial is a better product of the YRF spy universe, but ultimately still based on their usual template. With Alpha, YRF has made a film relatively grittier than their last outing, but if you are looking for something along the lines of “Dhurandhar”, this one isn’t that. Nevertheless, it’s still decently entertaining.

Alpha (2026) Plot Overview: Interesting Storyline But Ordinary Treatment

The film follows Sita (Alia Bhatt), a genetically enhanced super-soldier who goes rogue after discovering the dark truth behind her mentor’s illegal military project. Her mentor, Colonel Fateh (Bobby Deol), wants to continue creating super soldiers, even though he is banned from doing so due to official restrictions and the tragic death of previous human subjects.

To stop his bloody quest for supremacy, Sita must join forces with an unlikely ally, Durga (Sharvari), alongside R&AW Lieutenant Colonel Vikrant Kaul. The rest of the movie explores whether they manage to stop Colonel Fateh or if he continues to wreak havoc in his quest for ultimate dominance.

Alpha (2026) Visuals: YRF Nails It Yet Again

In its long history, YRF has rarely, if ever, disappointed with its visuals, and this one is no exception. Whether in the scenes shot in India or the gorgeous sequences in Spain, Alpha doesn’t miss. The scenery is stunning, and the execution is just as brilliant. For that, cinematographer Rubais deserves a ton of credit.

I found his work in the “Champagne” song, especially the fluid camera movements, particularly impressive. My favorite sequences in the film, however, were those that covered Fateh’s backstory. It was a treat to see the digitally de-aged Bobby Deol. For that sequence alone, the YRF VFX team warrants a massive round of applause.

​However, there is one detail that felt a little odd. In a scene where Sita is working on multiple computers, you can see several devices ranging from modern LED display monitors to clunky CRT monitors mixed in with wireless gaming keyboards.

​On one hand, they were aiming for a high-end spy or “Mr. Robot” aesthetic, but on the other hand, they added pieces that look like they belong in an old government office or a gaming room. I didn’t hate this as some people did, but it did feel like a noticeable aesthetic mismatch.

Alpha’s Writing and Dialogues: A Bit of a Hit-or-Miss Affair

From a broader perspective, a story about an illegal military operation creating super soldiers is quite interesting. While the film’s foundation is pretty solid, the actual execution is quite ordinary. For example, Bobby Deol’s backstory holds an interesting twist. However, the ease with which he managed to fool so many high-ranking officials felt way too simplistic. The opening scene suffers from the exact same straightforward treatment.

The dialogues are a similar story of hits and misses. Often, the lines sound like everyday conversation, and I don’t mind that one bit. Alpha even has a few memorable lines like “Ek kahani sunaati hoon… Ek rakshas tha. Ghamand uska shastra tha. Wo dhokhe se raaj karta tha.” (Let me tell you a story. There was a demon. Arrogance was his weapon, and he used to rule by deceit).

​However, it also has clunky dialogues like “Wolf ki beti, wolf hi hoti hai” (Wolf’s daughter is also a wolf). The forced parallels to the Ramayana also didn’t land well with dialogues like “Sita aaj Lanka khud jalaane aayi hai.” (Sita herself has come to burn Lanka this time).

Alpha (2026): Passable Direction With Multiple Strange Decisions

Shiv Rawail’s direction is a bit of a mixed bag, much like the writing. To start with the positives, the early scenes, especially Sita’s years growing up, were really well done. Even though I had a fair idea of where the story was heading, those sequences kept me genuinely excited to see how it would unfold.

Another scene I absolutely loved was shot at the graveyard featuring Sita and Dr. John Varghese (Dibyendu Bhattacharya). The film truly shines when it tries to be a gritty, character-driven spy drama. Where it falters is when it desperately tries to stick to the formulaic YRF template. The heavy emphasis on glamour and commercialization hurt the film’s stakes significantly.

For instance, Alia Bhatt’s character should have been allowed to look and act more like a tactical genius. While the stylist gets it right on a few occasions with cargo pants, utility jackets, plain T-shirts, and field watches, they don’t stay consistent. The tight body-hugging outfits don’t do her character any favors; she would have benefited from a more traditional, soldier-esque wardrobe.

Then, they often tried to draw parallels to Ramayana, which felt forced, as I previously mentioned. On top of that, Hrithik Roshan’s cameo felt unnecessary, even if it made theater crowds ecstatic. Furthermore, there’s a shot where we see Sita cooking Ching’s Chinese instant noodles with the camera focusing on the package momentarily. But to really hammer in their point, Sita even says, “I’m loving this desi Chinese.”

There are also moments that feel needlessly stretched out, which noticeably test the patience of some viewers in the theatre. The film could have certainly benefited from tighter editing. Case in point: the “Champagne” song is a visual treat and a cool YRF template way to introduce a character.

Great for YouTube, and I am sure it would bring millions of views for years, but not sure how beneficial it was as part of the film. And last but not least, having Sita walk in with a pack of fries before killing several security professionals or laughing mid-weight felt absolutely needless. The director should have avoided those strange, unimmersive choices entirely.

Alpha (2026) Performances: Anil Kapoor and Dibyendu Bhattacharya Excel

The film rests heavily on the shoulders of Alia Bhatt, and she has done well in scenes that allow her to explore the character’s trauma and isolation. Although you can see that she worked on her physical conditioning and looks great, I still don’t think she visually fits the part of a battle-hardened soldier.

The film would have benefited from casting a taller or more muscular actress. However, from a producer’s ROI perspective, it makes sense that they wanted a major bankable star as the main lead.

Sharvari, on the other hand, felt like she was made for this role. Not only did she do well in her emotional scenes, but she also looked the part. Bobby Deol looked insanely good, and his towering presence was absolutely needed to sell the threat of the villain.

However, his Haryanvi accent wasn’t always consistent- a slip-up that could have been avoided. Anil Kapoor, meanwhile, took to every beat effortlessly, whether playing a grieving husband, a regretful father, or a stylish military officer.

​Dibyendu Bhattacharya leaves a huge mark with limited screen time. His scene at the cemetery is superb, where he beautifully portrays a character who has been wronged by power but is still trying to do the absolute best he can. Similarly, Khushi Hazare has done tremendous work as a young Sita. If this performance was any indication of her raw potential, she has a very bright future ahead of her.

Final Verdict: Is Alpha (2026) Worth Watching?

Alpha is a highly flawed film. But despite all the issues I discussed in this post, my overall experience was a net positive. If you go in expecting a masterpiece or something along the lines of “Mission Impossible” or “Dhurandhar”, you will be disappointed.

But if you want to watch it in theaters, or on OTT when it arrives- it should keep you entertained. While it isn’t a must-watch theater experience, I also didn’t feel it was as bad as some people are calling it.