There was already talk that audiences were getting tired of seeing the same kind of spy stories. So now, if new reports are true, Alpha could be the film that changes things completely.

After years of building larger-than-life spies, the YRF Spy Universe may finally be trying something different. 

As per early reports around Alia Bhatt’s upcoming film Alpha, the actor may not be playing a spy at all.

Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha has long been seen as the next chapter in the YRF Spy Universe and its first female-led film, starring Alia Bhatt alongside Sharvari, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol.

According to sources close to the project, the upcoming action thriller could tell the story of a girl raised from childhood to become an assassin. 

That would make the character darker and more morally grey than the polished heroes audiences have seen so far in YRF’s blockbuster spy franchise.

“There was a feeling of fatigue about seeing another new spy,” a trade source told Bollywood Hungama, adding that producer Aditya Chopra may have decided to push the universe in a fresh direction.

“Alpha is definitely a major turn for the YRF Spy Universe,” another source said. “It presents a lead character who is an assassin, not a spy that we have seen all leads play earlier.”

The source also called the move “brave”, especially for a female-led action film. “This is not a conventional approach to build a hero,” they added.

Alpha comparison with  Black Widow

The reported assassin backstory has also sparked comparisons online to the Hollywood action film  Black Widow, led by Scarlett Johansson in the Marvel films. 

Fans say the character arc feels similar to Natasha Romanoff’s past, where young girls were trained as assassins under the Red Room programme, first hinted at in Avengers: Age of Ultron and later explored in Black Widow.

Alpha is scheduled to release on 10 July 2026.