Yash Raj Films is drawing a hard line in the sand on its release strategy for Alpha, the studio’s first female-led chapter in the Spy Universe headlined by Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. After online chatter suggested the spy-actioner might skip theatres for a direct-to-digital premiere, the banner has now issued a firm clarification, positioning the film as a big-screen event and not a streaming-first title.
The development lands as Alpha continues to undergo release date reshuffles, with the makers having already moved it once due to post-production demands and then opting to avoid a major April 2026 box office clash.
YRF Says Alpha Is Theatrical Only, Calls Streaming Claims A “Rumor”
In a statement, a YRF spokesperson dismissed the idea of Alpha heading straight to streaming, saying the claim was “a rumor” and adding that it “aims at putting a heroine-fronted film in an unflattering light.” The spokesperson further underlined the studio’s stance with a categorical line: “Yash Raj Films will never put films from its theatrical slate directly to streaming. We are a studio that takes immense pride in making cinematic experiences.”
Calling Alpha “a tentpole movie,” the statement also spotlighted the film’s ambition and casting. YRF said the project is an attempt at mounting “something incredibly special,” adding that the studio is hopeful the film will entertain audiences and “prove that audiences will give the same amount of love to this film as they shower upon other action movies.”
What We Know About Alpha And Its Shifting Release Plans
Alpha is directed by Shiv Rawail, whose previous project includes the series The Railway Men. The film stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in the lead, with Bobby Deol in a prominent role. It is set within YRF’s Spy Universe and has been designed as a theatrical spectacle, with heavy VFX involved.
The film was initially slated for a Christmas 2025 release, before being postponed to April 17, 2026 due to extended timelines for visual effects work. It has since been pushed again, with industry reports indicating the team is avoiding a clash with Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan, which is also dated for April 17, 2026. A new release date for Alpha is awaited.
Alpha is a spy-action film from Yash Raj Films’ Spy Universe. It is directed by Shiv Rawail and features Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as the leads, with Bobby Deol in a prominent role. Mounted as a VFX-heavy action spectacle, the film follows two agents in a high-stakes espionage mission, with the story kept under wraps as the makers position it firmly as a theatrical event.
Alia Bhatt’s Recent And Upcoming Work
Alia Bhatt’s recent screen run has blended big-scale Hindi cinema with international and streaming projects. In theatres, she starred in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023), and she has also headlined titles such as Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (2022) and Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022). On streaming, she led the Netflix film Darlings (2022), and also appeared in the international spy thriller Heart of Stone (2023) for Netflix.
Looking ahead, Alia’s confirmed upcoming theatrical slate includes Alpha, which YRF reiterates will be a cinema-first release. She is also attached to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, which has been reported with a 2026 release plan, though the exact date has seen conflicting reports as of early 2026.
Stay tuned with us for the latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, the latest Bollywood news, and the latest box office news.
