When Craig Macrae talks about preparing actors for brutal hand-to-hand combat, he knows what he is measuring against. The internationally acclaimed action director has worked with Charlize Theron and Milla Jovovich. So when he singles out Alia Bhatt for praise, it means something.
Macrae served as action director on Alpha, the upcoming Yash Raj Films production directed by Shiv Rawail. The film stars Alia and Sharvari in what promises to be a physically demanding action spectacle. And according to Macrae, both women left him genuinely impressed. The film's trailer was out the other day. "What sets Alia apart from other female stars is her work ethic," he says. "She put in a lot of time and effort preparing for this film. That dedication is going to make a huge difference in her on-screen presence."
That preparation, he is quick to note, went far beyond the fight sequences. Alia threw herself into the character with equal intensity. "She did a lot of work on the performance side too. You could really feel she was willing to go above and beyond what was needed." For an action director, that kind of commitment changes everything. It opens up creative possibilities that a less prepared actor simply cannot offer.
Sharvari matched her co-star every step of the way. "It's very rare to find people willing to put in that amount of time and effort," Macrae says. "Alia and Sharvari were absolutely incredible. Their physical training, their skills work, their stunt preparation, all of it." Director Shiv Rawail has spoken about building a film around the chemistry between the two leads, and that dynamic clearly extended into their training as well.
For Macrae and his stunt team, the actors' readiness was a gift. "It gave us so much more ability to design whatever we wanted, knowing they could execute it." That trust between director, actor and stunt team is what elevates action sequences from functional to spectacular.
Audiences going into an action film led by a female star carry a particular set of expectations. And they are rising. Viewers today demand physicality that looks real, emotional stakes that feel earned, and a woman who commands the screen without apology. They want grit without glamour as a crutch. Alpha, releasing worldwide on July 3, 2026, looks set to answer that call.
Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film's screenplay is written by Soumil Shukla and Shridhar Raghavan. Rubais is the Director of Photography. The music is composed by Rohansh and Abeer. Ishita Moitra has penned the dialogue. Alpha will feature a cameo by Hrithik Roshan.
