Alia Bhatt, Sharvari to Star is Spy Universe Movie “Alpha”

India’s Yash Raj Films (YRF) has unveiled the title for its first female-fronted installment in the studio’s successful spy universe franchise.

The movie “Alpha” stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as super agents. “This is a clear take by YRF to highlight a societal misinterpretation that only men can be Alphas,” said a source close to YRF.

“Alpha” is helmed by Shiv Rawail who debuted as a director with the studio’s hit 2023 Netflix series “The Railway Men.”

The title marks a significant shift for the action-packed series, which has previously centered on male protagonists, albeit with strong female characters. 

Created by producer and YRF chair and MD Aditya Chopra, the spy universe kicked off with the Tiger franchise, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, beginning with “Ek Tha Tiger” (2012) and “Tiger Zinda Hai” (2017).

The franchise continued with “War” (2019), starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, and “Pathaan,” starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, was one of the biggest Indian hits of 2023, as was “Tiger 3.”

Next up in the universe are “War 2,” starring Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr., “Pathaan 2” and “Tiger vs Pathaan.”

Bhatt has become one of Bollywood’s leading actresses since her debut with “Student of the Year” (2012). 

She is known for critically acclaimed performances in movies like “Highway” (2014), “Raazi” (2018), and “Gangubai Kathiawadi” (2022), for which she won Best Actress at India’s National Film Awards. Bhatt recently made her Hollywood debut with Netflix’s “Heart of Stone” (2023).

Sharvari is a rising talent in Bollywood. She made her debut with the Prime Video series “The Forgotten Army” (2020) and appeared in her first movie, “Bunty Aur Babli 2” (2021). Her career is gaining momentum with the theatrical hit “Munjya” (2024) and Netflix's global Top 10 success “Maharaj” (2024).