18 June,2026 08:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Alpha. Pic via X
As the buzz around Alpha continues to build up ahead of its theatrical release, the film has also been on the receiving end of some criticism and backlash. Amid this, the film's action director, Craig Macrae, has praised Alia Bhatt's commitment to the role. He added that her work ethic "sets her apart" and teased that audiences should "expect the unexpected" from her in the upcoming actioner. Notably, his comments came days after Alia's action sequences in the film's trailer drew mixed reactions online.
Craig Macrae has previously worked with international action stars such as Charlize Theron and Milla Jovovich. Talking of Alia, he said that her dedication throughout the film's preparation stood out and would translate into a powerful on-screen performance.
"What sets Alia Bhatt apart from those other female stars is that I think her work ethic is absolutely incredible. She's really put in a lot of time and a lot of effort into preparing for Alpha. She was really dedicated to the movie and I think that's going to be the thing that really makes a huge difference in her on-screen presence," he said.
The action director further added that Alia's preparation extended beyond mastering the film's stunt sequences. He said, "Not only just for the action preparation, she obviously did a lot of work for the preparation as the character as well. She's one of those people that you can really feel is willing to put in the amount of work that is required and then some, to go above and beyond what's needed for the film."
Macrae also showered praises on Sharvari, saying both actors invested months of effort into their physical conditioning, combat training and stunt work. "Alia and Sharvari were absolutely incredible for this movie. The preparation that they put into it, the work that they put into preparing for this movie physically and with their skills training and stunt training was absolutely incredible. It's very rare to find people who are willing to put in the amount of time and effort that Alia and Sharvari put into this movie," he noted.
The film marks the first female-led film in YRF's spy universe. The recently released trailer introduces Alia as Sita, a highly trained assassin raised and built to kill by her mentor Bobby Deol. She goes head-to-head with her mentor-turned-foe. Packed with high-octane action, and globe-trotting espionage, Alpha is set to be a full-fledged spy entertainer, with Alia and Sharvari leading the charge.
