Alia Bhatt and Sharvari’s highly anticipated spy thriller Alpha finally released in theatres on Friday, July 3, marking the first female-led film in the YRF Spy Universe. Directed by Shiv Rawail, the film opened to packed morning shows, and social media platform X (formerly Twitter) was soon flooded with first reactions. While some viewers praised the film’s action sequences and performances, others felt it failed to live up to the massive pre-release hype.
The early audience response has been sharply divided. Several moviegoers described Alpha as an “average” action entertainer, with some even calling it “OTT material” rather than a theatrical blockbuster. A section of viewers felt the narrative lacked the excitement expected from a YRF Spy Universe film, with a few claiming that the story tested their patience despite its grand scale and star-studded cast.
Alia Bhatt’s performance also sparked mixed opinions online. While many fans appreciated her effort in leading an action-heavy spy thriller, others felt the actress was “miscast” in the role. Sharvari, meanwhile, received praise from several viewers for her action scenes and screen presence, with many saying she delivered one of the stronger performances in the film.
One aspect that received widespread appreciation was Hrithik Roshan’s special cameo as Major Kabir from War. Fans celebrated his appearance, calling it one of the film’s biggest highlights and praising how it strengthened the larger YRF Spy Universe. The supporting cast, including Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor, also earned positive mentions from audiences for their performances.
Many social media users acknowledged that the film featured stylish visuals and a few well-executed action set pieces, but argued that these moments were not enough to elevate the overall experience. Several posts described the film as “average with a couple of slick action sequences,” reflecting the mixed reception among early viewers.
Alpha has had a long journey to the big screen after facing multiple release date changes. Originally scheduled to release in December before being postponed several times, the film finally hit cinemas on July 3. As one of the biggest Bollywood releases of the year and the first woman-led installment in the YRF Spy Universe, expectations have remained exceptionally high.
With audience reactions divided after the first day, all eyes are now on the film’s box office performance over the opening weekend. Whether positive word-of-mouth grows or mixed reviews affect its theatrical run will become clearer in the coming days.