After Tiger 3 and War 2, ‘Alpha’ steps in as YRF’s attempt to revive its Spy Universe!

Yash Raj Films’ ambitious Spy Universe began with Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, and War (2019). The first three films worked as individual hits before YRF connected them under one action franchise. Pathaan brought in big box office numbers but didn’t leave the same impact as the earlier films in the franchise. Later, Tiger 3 and War 2 struggled to meet expectations, both critically and commercially. This led to doubts over the future of the Spy Universe.

Now, YRF is banking on Alpha, the first female-led film in the series. Directed by Shiv Rawail, the film stars Alia Bhatt in the lead role, with Sharvari Wagh playing another key agent. The story is said to revolve around two top Indian spies joining forces for a high-stakes mission across international locations. The film promises large-scale action sequences and high-end visual effects. Originally planned for a December 25, 2025 release, Alpha has now been pushed to April 17, 2026 due to post-production delays. Sources close to the team say the film involves heavy VFX work.

Given the recent performance of Tiger 3 and War 2, Alpha is being seen as a make-or-break project for YRF’s Spy Universe. If the film fails to strike a chord with audiences, the studio might put an end to the franchise. Adding to the speculation, Salman Khan Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR are reportedly not making cameo appearances in Alpha. Their absence has further fueled talk that YRF may wrap up the spy saga after this film. For now, all eyes are on Alpha to revive the once-promising universe and bring a fresh perspective through a female-led story.