Alpha is struggling to find any momentum at the Indian box office as it enters its third week. The Alia Bhatt and Sharvari-starrer, which released on July 3, has been witnessing a steep decline in collections, reflecting the negative word-of-mouth surrounding the film. On its 18th day, the third Sunday, the film collected an estimated Rs 1 crore net.
This brings the film's total India net collection to Rs 54.75 crore, while the India gross stands at approximately Rs 64.79 crore. The film's performance during the third weekend has been underwhelming, with the lack of audience pull becoming increasingly evident.
A Disastrous Third Weekend
After a decent opening week that concluded with Rs 45.25 crore net, the film's second week saw a massive drop. The second week collections totalled just Rs 8.75 crore, followed by a disastrous third weekend with an estimated Rs 1-1.20 crore. While the third Sunday displayed slight growth over the previous day, the overall figures remain critically low, confirming that the film has failed to sustain any meaningful theatrical run.
Directed by Shiv Rawail and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, the film features a talented ensemble cast including Alia Bhatt as Sita, Sharvari, Bobby Deol as Fateh Singh Lakhawat, and Anil Kapoor as Colonel Vikrant Kaul. The screenplay was penned by Soumil Shukla and Shridhar Raghavan, with dialogues by Ishita Moitra, based on a story by Uday Chopra.
A Mixed Reception That Impacted Performance
The film's technical team has been praised for their work, with Rubais' cinematography and the background score by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara receiving positive notices. The action choreography by Craig Macrae and Sunil Rodrigues has also been noted for its quality. However, the screenplay has been widely criticized for its lack of emotional connection and engaging narrative.
Audience reviews have been predominantly negative, with viewers expressing disappointment over the weak plot and the film's inability to capture the magic of the YRF Spy Universe. The film's extended runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes has also been cited as a factor affecting its theatrical viability.
Looking Ahead at the Box Office
Trade analysts suggest that 'Alpha' is now heading for a disappointing finish. With collections slowing down considerably, the film is unlikely to add much more from here on. Based on current trends, the film is expected to close its entire run around Rs 56 crore or so. That's a disastrous result for such a well-budgeted YRF spy film, marking one of the major disappointments in the actor's recent career.