Post-Alpha debacle, what is the future of YRF Spy Universe? Trade experts give their suggestions, “Reboot the series; make Pathaan 2, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, Sharvari; avoid bikini scenes”

Three years ago, the YRF Spy Universe was one of the most popular movie groups in Indian cinema.But the failure of War 2 in 2025 made things harder for the series.The movie Alpha also didn’t do well, which made people wonder if the franchise still has a future.Even with this uncertainty, there's hope that YRF will make Pathaan 2, featuring Shah Rukh Khan.We talked to people who know a lot about the film industry to learn what might happen next for the Spy Universe and how it can get back on track.

Trade expert Taran Adarsh said, "The Spy Universe needs a fresh start." But he doesn’t think the series is over.

He said, “Never say never.There will be stops along the way.That doesn’t mean we stop moving forward.”  

He added, "Look at past Spy Universe movies like Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai, and Pathaan.

These were fun and exciting.Now, the audience expects something new.Also, Dhurandhar changed how we view spy thrillers, especially with its take on Pakistan."  

Trade analyst Atul Mohan said, "People love action movies.

But all the Spy Universe films are pretty similar.The country is in danger, the villain hides his true colors, and sometimes he's on the side of the hero."  

He continued, "Like Dhurandhar, they need to reinvent themselves.

If they don't want to show a Pakistan villain, they can use someone from another country.The story and how it's made should be different from the other films in the series."  

He also mentioned, "In Alpha, there was a scene with Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in bikinis.

That should be avoided.The movie should feel real."  

Vishek Chauhan, owner of a cinema in Bihar, said, "They should take a break for 2 to 3 years.

Let this genre rest on TV and OTT platforms.Then, come back with Pathaan 2.Bring new storylines and maybe unite all the characters in one big movie.That would mean having Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, and Sharvari.Marvel did something similar with Avengers: Doomsday.They used to make many films a year but now are focusing on one big movie."  

He said, "Theatrical movies need to be ahead of TV.

You can't expect people to love a movie just because it's the same as what they watch on TV."  

Girish Johar, a producer and film analyst, noted, "Alpha took the story in a new direction for the franchise.

Aditya Chopra and the YRF team have opened up the universe.In the end, Anil Kapoor's character asks Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, "Why don't you join Tiger, Pathaan, and Kabir?" Imagine all these five characters coming together.Or even if Shah Rukh and Alia or Salman and Alia team up, it will create excitement just from the announcement.So, even if people say bad things, Alpha is a positive step for the YRF Spy Universe."

Dhamaal 4 Box Office: Has a GOOD HOLD on Monday, crosses Rs. 70 crores in 4 days

Dhamaal 4 is doing really well and is becoming a big hit.On Monday, it was expected to do good, and that's exactly what happened with strong audience interest.The movie earned Rs.8.18 crores, which is a small drop compared to the Rs.13.72 crores it made on Friday.This shows that the movie is being accepted by people beyond just the weekend crowd.

At one point, there was hope that the movie might reach even higher numbers.

The big jump on Saturday and continued growth on Sunday made that seem possible.However, even though it didn't reach Rs.10 crores, it has done well enough to reach where it is now, and the collections will likely stay stable from here.

The movie did not choose to offer the Blockbuster Tuesday deal, so ticket prices are regular.

This means there won't be a big rush on Tuesday like there usually is with such offers, but it also helps keep the drop on Wednesday in check since the weekday collections will be more steady.

Since this is a family movie, you can expect the collections to remain steady until Friday.

Then, there should be a bigger rise on Saturday and Sunday.This will balance things out and help the movie reach its target of Rs.150 crores overall.It is already halfway there with Rs.72.53 crores and is expected to close the first week at around Rs.93-94 crores.

Did Dhurandhar affect Alpha’s box office outcome? Trade experts share their views: “You can’t escape comparison with Dhurandhar. It’ll remain in front of you always”

Alpha did not do well at the box office, and some people think it was because audience tastes changed after the movie Dhurandhar.We talked to trade experts about this idea.

Trade veteran Taran Adarsh said, "After Dhurandhar, the way people look at spy thrillers, especially those with a Pakistan angle, has changed completely.

People's thinking has shifted, and they have made that clear."

Trade analyst Atul Mohan said, "There is some negative talk about the Spy Universe.

Some netizens are trying to bring it down.They say it's too soft on Pakistan and compare it with Dhurandhar.But the film was made long before Dhurandhar.It was not fair to compare them.The film was delayed because of certain reasons, and the teaser didn't get the right reaction."

At the same time, he said, "You can't avoid comparing it with Dhurandhar.

It will always be the first thing people think of when talking about the Spy Universe.A film like Dhurandhar comes once in a lifetime.It changes how stories are told and it needs to be respected.It set a new standard."

Meanwhile, Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar, completely disagreed with this belief, "This is a narrow view spread online by people who don't understand the business.

Didn't people come in large numbers to watch Alpha over the weekend?Many were expecting an opening of Rs.4 crores; it ended up making close to Rs.10 crores on the first day.Even with bad reports, people still went to see it.The audience hasn't vowed to only watch films like Dhurandhar.Dhurandhar is done, and it's not on their minds anymore.They want something that excites them."

He continued, "Theatrical audience is like a hungry animal looking for something new.

It will go for anything that catches its interest, and it has a big appetite.The key is to give them something exciting.They think, 'I haven't had this in a long time.' If you keep feeding them the same thing, they'll get bored.Give them something new every day, and everything will be fine.Repetition harms the theatrical business."

Girish Johar, a producer and well-known film business analyst, agreed, "Clearly, social media trolling hasn't affected the film, as shown by the weekend numbers.

The average person doesn't care.If they like a film, they'll go see it."

Dhamaal 4 Box Office: Film edges Welcome To The Jungle; emerges as 3rd highest opening weekend grosser of 2026

Dhamaal 4 has made another big achievement by becoming the third highest-grossing film of the opening weekend in 2026.After making Rs.64.35 crores in the first three days, the comedy movie has beaten Welcome To The Jungle, which made Rs.63.47 crores, and now holds the No.3 position among the biggest opening weekends of the year.

The latest movie in the Dhamaal series continues to do well, drawing people to the theaters with its mix of funny moments, group acting, and family-friendly fun.

Although the gap between Dhamaal 4 and Welcome To The Jungle is only a little over Rs.1.53 crores, it's enough for Dhamaal 4 to be in the top three in a very competitive year for box office numbers.

Only two films have done better than Dhamaal 4 in 2026.

At the top is Dhurandhar The Revenge, which made a huge Rs.443 crores on its opening weekend and is far ahead of others.The film starring Ranveer Singh has set a high standard that no other movie has reached this year.In second place is Border 2, which opened with Rs.129.89 crores, showing how big-budget films are dominating the box office.

Behind Dhamaal 4 is Welcome To The Jungle with Rs.

63.47 crores, followed by Bhooth Bangla, which made Rs.54.50 crores on its opening weekend.Cocktail 2 comes in last with Rs.46.76 crores, proving that audiences are still supporting different types of movies.

Dhamaal 4's success is especially important because it beat another major comedy, Welcome To The Jungle, and became the top comedy film among the top opening weekends of the year.

The film also shows that the Dhamaal franchise is still popular, even after several movies, and continues to attract families.

Now that Dhamaal 4 is in the top three opening weekends of 2026, the attention is shifting to its performance on weekdays.

If it can keep its good momentum in the coming days, it has a good chance of becoming one of the biggest hits of the year and adding another success to Bollywood's successful comedy franchise.

Top 5 Highest Opening Weekend Grossers of 2026:  

Dhurandhar The Revenge - Rs.

443 cr  

Border 2 - Rs.

129.89 cr  

Dhamaal 4 - Rs.

64.35 cr  

Welcome To The Jungle - Rs.

63.47 cr  

Bhooth Bangla - Rs.

54.50 cr  

Cocktail 2 - Rs.

46.76 cr

Trade believes that Alpha will collect Rs. 55-60 cr in its lifetime; explains what went wrong, “The basic premise that the Indian Army is bereft of intelligence is something that the smarter audiences have not been able to digest

Alpha had a decent weekend, but due to some negative reports, it dropped more than usual during the weekdays.We talked to trade experts to figure out how much the film might earn in total.So far, it has made Rs.41 crores, and it's still unclear if it can reach the Rs.60 crore mark.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, "The reports are mixed.

How it does from Monday to Thursday will be important.It doesn't have an open run like Dhamaal 4, which is coming on Friday.Dhamaal 4 is part of a big franchise and its trailer got a lot of praise.This will probably take away some of Alpha's business in big cities and smaller towns, as well as Welcome To The Jungle."

Atul Mohan agreed, "A basic calculation suggests that if a film makes around Rs.

30 crores over the weekend, it should reach about Rs.60 crores in total.However, Dhamaal 4 came out this Friday and took over screens.Also, some screens are being given to Welcome To The Jungle since it's still doing well.So, it should cross Rs.50-55 crores in total."

Vishek Chauhan, who owns a cinema in Purnia, Bihar, predicted, "I hope it makes Rs.

60 crores.In my view, it's a disappointment." Girish Johar noted, "Considering its cost and the delays, the film might end up doing badly at the box office."

Atul Mohan added, "The film isn't as bad as people think.

It picked up on Saturday and Sunday.In Kolkata, it was 25% higher on Saturday and 20% more on Sunday."

When asked what went wrong, Girish Johar said, "The idea that the Indian Army lacks intelligence isn't something smart audiences are buying.

This isn't a mindless film like Welcome To The Jungle or Dhamaal 4.It's a smart, intelligent film.You can't serve half-baked stories."

Taran Adarsh said, "In the second half, the writing was going nowhere.

It was all over.I didn't like Bobby Deol's character."

He also said, "I felt Alia Bhatt didn't fit the role.

I agree she has superhuman abilities, but it had to look convincing that she was fighting so many people."

Vishek Chauhan explained, "YRF Spy Universe is a big franchise, but there are too many similar films now.

There's no real new ideas and a lot of similar content on TV.That makes the excitement drop.Once that happens, the opening is low, which affects the total.A commercial film depends on the opening weekend.If Alpha had made Rs.75 crores over the weekend, things would have been different.But it ended up making Rs.30 crores.Dhamaal 4 came out this Friday, and it's followed by The Odyssey.This will affect Alpha's earnings in the coming weeks."

Taran Adarsh concluded, "I have to give YRF credit for putting so much money and effort into every film.

They give their best to every project.They don't cut corners.Even in the case of Alpha, the making was really good.The action sequences were big and expensive.There was no compromise, and the production house deserves credit.However, the writing was lacking.That's where the film fell apart."

With Alpha, Aditya Chopra proved that audiences are ready for female-led action spectacles

In an industry where people usually think that big action movies need a male superstar in the lead, Aditya Chopra tried something new with his movie Alpha.He put two women at the center of a big, exciting action film, which is something that's not common in mainstream action movies.

Alpha showed that audiences are open to seeing action films led by women.

The movie made a lot of money in India, collecting Rs.9.12 crore nett, which was the biggest opening ever for a film led by women in Indian cinema.This wasn't just a number—it showed that people were willing to watch a big, high-concept action movie that was led by women.

For a long time, movies led by women have mostly been small-budget or focused on specific, emotional stories.

Alpha broke that pattern by putting women in the spotlight of a big, action-packed film that's usually reserved for male stars.

The movie also kept getting more attention over the weekend.

Alia Bhatt and Sharvari's popularity, the excitement around action movies, and a strong marketing plan helped bring people to the theaters even though the film faced a lot of negative comments online.

What’s even more important is that Alpha showed that audiences aren’t naturally against women leading big action films.

They were curious, the opening was good, and the idea had real commercial potential.

That's why Alpha deserves recognition as a bold move by Aditya Chopra to change mainstream Hindi cinema.

He's known for taking risks and going against the usual trends.Even though the movie didn't keep up its pace at the box office, the idea of making a big action film led by women is something that should be praised.

Disruption doesn’t always mean making a lot of money right away.

Sometimes it means challenging the usual way things are done and proving that a new idea has a place in the mainstream.In that sense, Alpha opened up new possibilities for what a Hindi action movie can be.Instead of just being side characters or love interests, the women were the main heroes of the story.

At the same time, the film's box office result shouldn’t be taken as proof that audiences don't like female-led action films.

It shows a truth that applies to every movie: the story and how well it's told are what really matter.

If Alpha had been written better, with a more engaging story and stronger emotional depth, its strong opening might have turned into a successful run.

The concept attracted people, but the movie wasn't able to keep them interested after the initial excitement faded.

In many ways, though, Alpha has already done something important.

It showed movie makers, studios, and theaters that people are ready to watch action films led by women.The barrier to acceptance is much lower than many in the industry might have thought.The next step is to build on this idea with even better storytelling, bigger stars, and more exciting action.If filmmakers can do that, India’s first big female-led action blockbuster might not be far away.

Alpha proved that audiences are ready.

The next film just needs to give them a story they can't stop talking about.

Dhamaal 4 Box Office: Scores an EXCELLENT weekend, all set for DOUBLE DIGIT Monday

Almost four months after *Dhurandhar The Revenge*, Bollywood has had its biggest weekend at the box office.People didn't really expect a huge amount for the comedy franchise before it came out, and that was just underestimating the power of this hit series.*Dhamaal* was a good earner, *Double Dhamaal* was a hit, *Total Dhamaal* was even bigger and had a lot of famous stars, including Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit.Now, with Ajay Devgn regularly joining the team in the third and fourth movies, the numbers have become the best so far.

The film made around Rs.64.35 crores in its opening weekend, which is a great number even if we think about before the pandemic.It started well, then the numbers grew a lot on Saturday, and then it peaked on Sunday with Rs.28.15 crores, which is the highest single day total for any film in 2026 after *Dhurandhar The Revenge* and *Border 2*.It's going really well in the mass markets, and when single screens get involved in something this big, anything can happen.

It's no surprise that the film is now ready to make another double-digit number today, and it will likely rise even more tomorrow due to the Blockbuster Tuesday offer.

The Rs.100 crore mark is expected this week, and there's potential for it to cross Rs.150 crore in its lifetime.The multi-star film has already confirmed its hit status, and now the question is just how big it will become in its final run.