Alpha behind the scenes: the shoot that ran long

Alpha's Kashmir schedule, one of the film's most heavily promoted action sequences, ran into weather delays that pushed its completion into September 2024, more than two months later than planned. That single delay set off a chain that ultimately saw the film wrap five months after its originally announced release date had already come and gone.

Where it was shot

Principal photography began July 2024 across three locations: Mumbai, Kashmir, and Valladolid in Spain. The Kashmir leg, filmed in Sonamarg and Pahalgam, is where the production hit its most publicised obstacle. Adverse weather disrupted the schedule badly enough that the sequence, a high-octane fight between Sharvari and Bobby Deol, wasn't completed until September 2024. Sharvari has described the sequence as physically demanding but exhilarating, one of the few direct quotes from the production that's made it into public circulation.

The cameo shoot that came later

Hrithik Roshan joined the production for his cameo in November 2024, four months after principal photography began. That's standard practice for franchise cameos, shot separately and often later than the main cast's schedule, but it also means Roshan's specific footage was locked well before the film's final cut was assembled.

The long tail of the shoot

Alia Bhatt and Sharvari didn't wrap their portions until August 2025, over a year after filming began. The production as a whole didn't complete until November 11, 2025. For context, the film's originally announced release date was December 25, 2025, which means Alpha finished shooting barely six weeks before it was originally supposed to be in theatres.

What this means for the finished film

A five-and-a-half-week gap between wrap and intended release for a VFX-heavy action tentpole was never realistic, and the subsequent delay to April 2026, then again to July 2026, reads less like a marketing decision and more like the production catching up to the actual scope of what it was trying to deliver. The involvement of a dedicated VFX house, yFX, and two separate action directors, Craig Macrae and Sunil Rodrigues, suggests a production that kept adding complexity to its action sequences well into post-production.

The CBFC stage

The film received its UA 16+ certificate on June 29, 2026, just days before release, with reports indicating the board trimmed multiple stabbing-related clips before certification. That's a late-stage certification turnaround, arriving less than a week before the film's theatrical debut.

The AltBollywood read

None of this means the film is in trouble. Long, difficult shoots for ambitious action franchise entries aren't unusual, and weather delays on a Kashmir schedule are a known risk, not a red flag. What's notable is how little of this timeline pressure has been acknowledged publicly by YRF, versus how clearly it's visible once you actually lay the dates out next to each other.

What's next

Once the film releases, watch for whether reviews specifically call out the VFX or action sequencing as a strength, given how much extra post-production time went into finishing them.

Quick Facts

• Film title: Alpha

• Platform (India): Theatrical

• Platform (international): Theatrical, worldwide

• Release date: July 3, 2026

• Runtime: 140 minutes

• Certificate: UA 16+

FAQ

Where was Alpha filmed?

Mumbai, Kashmir (Sonamarg and Pahalgam), and Valladolid, Spain.

Did Alpha's production face delays? Yes, the Kashmir schedule was disrupted by adverse weather and ran roughly two months over, contributing to a broader production timeline that pushed past the film's original release date.

When did Alpha finish filming?

Principal photography completed on November 11, 2025, more than a year after it began.

When did Hrithik Roshan shoot his cameo for Alpha? November 2024, separately from the main cast's schedule.

Did CBFC make any changes to Alpha before certification?

Yes, reports indicate multiple stabbing-related clips were trimmed before the film received its UA 16+ certificate on June 29, 2026.