The much-anticipated release of Alia Bhatt's spy action film 'Alpha' has hit another roadblock, with producers pushing back its theatrical debut for the second time. The decision, confirmed by trade analyst Taran Adarsh, is a strategic move to avoid a high-stakes box office clash with another Bollywood giant.
Alpha Steps Aside for Battle of Galwan
The film has been shifted from its scheduled date of April 17, 2026, which it was set to share with Salman Khan's war drama 'Battle of Galwan'. Adarsh announced this development on social media, stating that producer Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films (YRF) has decided to step aside and will announce a new date after reviewing the release calendar in the coming months.
This marks a significant shift in strategy for the YRF Spy Universe installment. The same April date was initially secured by the 'Alpha' team, which features Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in leading roles. The move underscores the potential financial risk of a direct clash between two major tentpole films.
A History of Delays for the Spy Thriller
This is not the first postponement for 'Alpha'. The film was previously delayed from a planned Christmas 2025 release. That initial shift was reportedly due to extensive post-production and visual effects (VFX) work required to meet the high standards of the Spy Universe.
Had the film kept its original December 2025 slot, it would have faced competition from the Ranveer Singh-starrer spy thriller 'Dhurandhar'. That film proved to be a massive success, crossing the Rs 1,000 crore mark at the worldwide box office in just 22 days, becoming the second-fastest Hindi film to achieve that feat after Shah Rukh Khan's 'Jawan'.
What's Next for Alpha and the YRF Spy Universe?
'Alpha' is now expected to arrive in cinemas sometime in the second half of 2026. Directed by Shiv Rawail, the film is the sixth official entry in the expanding YRF Spy Universe, which includes popular franchises like 'Tiger', 'War', and 'Pathaan'.
The project was first teased to audiences in a post-credits scene featured in 'War 2'. While Alia Bhatt herself did not appear in that clip, it is widely believed that a younger version of her character was shown alongside actor Bobby Deol, setting the stage for her entry into the high-octane world of spies.
Fans of the universe and of Alia Bhatt will now have to wait a few more months to see her in action. The producers' cautious approach highlights the increasingly strategic and crowded landscape of big-budget Hindi film releases, where avoiding clashes is often key to maximizing box office potential.
