Alpha, the seventh film in YRF’s Spy Universe and its first female-led chapter, is expected to stream on Netflix after its theatrical run, likely around August, though no date is confirmed. Directed by Shiv Rawail, it stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as operatives entangled in espionage, betrayal and high-octane action, and has earned about Rs 91 crore worldwide despite mixed reviews.
Two weeks after Alpha opened in cinemas to a mixed response, the talk in Bollywood circles has already shifted to when the film will land on an online streaming platform. It is a familiar pattern for big ticket Hindi releases these days: a theatrical run, plenty of debate over the numbers, and then the inevitable countdown to an OTT premiere. For Alpha,the seventh instalment of Yash Raj Films' Spy Universe, that countdown appears to be underway. Alpha, which stars Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor, is expected to stream on Netflix, according to reports, even as Yash Raj Films is yet to confirm an official date.
While there is no official word yet, multiple reports, including one from The Economic Times, point to Netflix as the streaming platform once the film's theatrical window winds down. That would be consistent with how YRF has handled its recent Spy Universe titles, all of which have stuck to a cinema-first release before moving online. Netflix is reported to have already secured the film's rights even before its theatrical debut, though the digital premiere itself is expected only once the makers decide the theatrical run has run its course.
As far as Alpha OTT release date is concerned, going by the industry norm of Hindi films arriving on streaming roughly eight weeks after their theatrical release, an August debut looks likely for the film. However, do note that nothing has been officially confirmed.
Netflix had reportedly offered around Rs 215 crore to acquire Alpha as a straight-to-digital release, according to Mid-Day. Yash Raj Films is said to have turned down that proposal, choosing to hold on to its theatrical-first approach for one of its bigger franchises.
Directed by Shiv Rawail in his feature film debut, and written by Soumil Shukla, Shridhar Raghavan, Ishita Moitra and Uday Chopra, the film is the first female-led chapter in a franchise that has so far given audiences Pathaan, Tiger and War. Alia Bhatt plays Sita, an operative raised in isolation as part of a secretive programme built around a regenerative serum. Her world unravels when she learns that the man she believed to be her father, Colonel Fateh Singh Lakhawat, played by Bobby Deol, is in fact the architect behind her stolen childhood. Sita teams up with Durga, played by Sharvari, to take down his operation, with the story mixing espionage, family betrayal and heavy-duty action. Anil Kapoor also features, alongside a cameo from Hrithik Roshan reprising his War character.
The reception has been mixed, both from critics and audiences, but the film has still managed a steady theatrical run. As per Sacnilk, Alpha has collected an estimated Rs 55.21 crore India net, Rs 65.78 crore India gross, and around Rs 25.50 crore overseas, taking its worldwide total to approximately Rs 91.28 crore. These numbers fall short of what earlier Spy Universe films managed, but with a recognisable cast and a loyal franchise following, Alpha film is expected to keep drawing interest right up until its eventual move to Netflix.