Alpha cast and character guide: who plays who

Alia Bhatt plays Sita, an assassin whose name comes from her stepfather in reference to her mother Janaki, and she's up against a program he's secretly running. Here's the full breakdown of who's playing who in Alpha, and how the characters connect.

Alia Bhatt as Sita

This is Alia Bhatt's first time headlining a Yash Raj Films production in a career spanning more than 13 years, and it puts her in the position of series lead for the first time in the Spy Universe. Sita's arc, per the trailer, centers on taking down an illegal soldier program run by her own stepfather, which puts a personal betrayal at the core of what's otherwise franchise-standard espionage plotting.

Sharvari as the second operative

Sharvari's character starts the film as someone Sita doesn't trust, and the two build an alliance over the course of the mission. This is Sharvari's biggest theatrical platform yet, following Munjya and Vedaa, and the film positions her as a genuine co-lead rather than a supporting player.

Bobby Deol as the antagonist

Deol plays the film's primary villain, continuing YRF's pattern of casting recognisable stars in the antagonist role rather than lesser-known actors, a choice that worked for the franchise in Pathaan and War.

Anil Kapoor in a key supporting role

Kapoor's exact character function hasn't been detailed in trailer materials, but he's confirmed as part of the core ensemble alongside Bhatt, Sharvari and Deol.

Hrithik Roshan's cameo

Confirmed through a dedicated shoot in November 2024, Roshan's cameo continues the Spy Universe's habit of stitching films together through franchise cameos, though the exact scope of his appearance in the final cut isn't public yet.

The unconfirmed cameo

The trailer ends on a character shown only through green eyes, with fan speculation pointing toward Hrithik Roshan or, less credibly, Shah Rukh Khan. Neither has been officially confirmed as that specific shot's identity.

Behind the camera, the names shaping the film's tone

Shiv Rawail directs, making his feature debut after The Railway Men. Aditya Chopra produces. The screenplay comes from Soumil Shukla and Shridhar Raghavan, based on a story by Uday Chopra, with dialogues by Ishita Moitra. Cinematography is by Rubais. Action direction is split between Craig Macrae and Sunil Rodrigues. Music is composed by Rohansh and Abeer, with background score by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara. Editing is by Aarif Sheikh, VFX by yFX, and choreography by Vijay Ganguly and Bosco Leslie Martis.

Why the crew list matters here

For a two-hander action film introducing new leads into an established franchise, the technical team, especially two separate action directors and a dedicated VFX house, is doing a lot of the work to make the action sequences feel franchise-consistent even without a returning solo star anchoring 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

Who plays the lead role in Alpha?

Alia Bhatt plays Sita, the film's central character, in her first headlining role for Yash Raj Films.

Who is the villain in Alpha?

Bobby Deol plays the film's primary antagonist.

Does Hrithik Roshan appear in Alpha? Yes, he has a confirmed cameo, shot separately in November 2024.

Who directed Alpha?

Shiv Rawail, making his feature film directorial debut after The Railway Men.

Is Anil Kapoor's role in Alpha confirmed?

Yes, he's part of the core cast, though his exact character details haven't been fully detailed publicly yet.