Salman, Shah Rukh, Hrithik and Alia’s spy-verse explained.
As Alia Bhatt stars in YRF’s 7th spy film, Alpha, take a look at the spy-verse timeline and how Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan brought the ‘universe’ together.
After much speculation, Alia Bhatt has finally confirmed her YRF spy film with Sharvari Wagh. The actress also announced that the film will be titled ‘Alpha’. Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha will be the seventh film in YRF’s spy-verse. The spy universe began with Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger and featured Bollywood’s top heroes in the subsequent spy films. Alia Bhatt is the first actress to headline a YRF spy-verse film. However, how do these films all tie in together?
From Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger to Alia Bhatt’s Alpha and Salman-Shah Rukh Khan’s Tiger vs Pathaan, here is a timeline of all YRF spy-verse films:
Ek Tha Tiger
Salman Khan starrer Ek Tha Tiger was released in 2012. The film was directed by Kabir Khan and featured Salman Khan as an Indian spy, whose codename was Tiger. The film also introduced us to Katrina Kaif as Zoya, a Pakistani intelligence agent. Tiger and Zoya fall in love during a covert mission and towards the end of the film, go into hiding as their agencies try to hunt them down.
Tiger Zinda Hai
Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif returned as Tiger and Zoya in this 2017 film. Tiger Zinda Hai was directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. Tiger and Zoya return to the field for their agencies independently after years of hiding. However, they soon realise that they have the same mission. They unite their fellow Indian and Pakistani agents to free nurses being held hostage by terrorists.
After Tiger Zinda Hai, Aditya Chopra had the idea to include these films in a ‘spy universe’ and create more films about Indian intelligence agents from different walks of life. However, before a crossover between these films could happen, there had to be a standalone film to establish more context and give characters more background.
War
Thus, Hrithik Roshan’s War was released in 2019 to introduce us to Kabir, a senior intelligence agent. The film also featured Tiger Shroff as a young agent who takes inspiration from Hrithik’s Kabir while working in his team. Through a series of twists, Tiger Shroff and Hrithik Roshan eventually have to battle one another and Hrithik’s Kabir emerges victorious. The film was directed by Siddharth Anand.
Pathaan
Siddharth Anand returned to direct Shah Rukh Khan’s 2023 film, Pathaan. The film also introduced us to Deepika Padukone as Rubai, a Pakistani undercover agent. Similar to Tiger and Zoya, Pathaan and Rabai also fall for each other on their mission. Pathaan also marks the first film in the spy-verse to witness a crossover when Salman Khan’s Tiger comes to save Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan. Interestingly, the antagonist in the film, played by John Abraham, is also a former Indian intelligence agent.
Tiger 3
Soon after the release of Pathaan, in the same year, Salman Khan returned to the screens as Tiger in Maneesh Sharma’s Tiger 3. Katrina Kaif also returned as Zoya. In this film, Tiger and Zoya concoct a strategy to save their son, and the Pakistani government, from Emraan Hashmi. It is revealed that Emraan Hashmi is the same man whom Salman and Katrina got arrested towards the end of the first Tiger film. It is also revealed that Emraan is Katrina’s mentor, who raised her after her father’s death. Thus, the Tiger storyline comes full circle. In this film, Pathaan returns the favour by saving Tiger in an action sequence. Hrithik Roshan also makes a cameo as Kabir.
War 2
Ayan Mukerji’s War 2 is slated to be released in 2025. Towards the end of Tiger 3, Hrithik Roshan gets a call from his superior who informs him about a new threat who is nameless, faceless and ruthless. In War 2, Hrithik Roshan will go head-to-head against Jr NTR. The film will also feature Kaira Advani. The scene also brings back Ashutosh Rana’s Colonel Luthra, who was seen in both War and Pathaan.
Alpha
Alia Bhatt’s standalone YRF Spy Universe film is titled Alpha. The Shiv Rawail directorial venture does not have a release date yet. Alia Bhatt revealed the film’s title today by sharing a video. The video included a voiceover which said, “Greek alphabet ka sabse pehle akshar aur hamare program ka motto. Sabse pehle, sabse tez, sabse veer. Dhyaan se dekho toh har shahar mein ek jungle hai aur har jungle mein raaj karega ek Alpha (The first alphabet of the Greek language and our motto – first, fastest and courageous. If you see, every city is a jungle and every jungle is ruled by an Alpha)”. Besides Alia, Sharvari Wagh will also be playing a key role in the movie.
Pathaan 2
Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone will return to the spy-verse as Pathaan and Rubai. As reported by Peeping Moon, Shah Rukh Khan is likely to begin shooting for Pathaan 2 by the year’s end. Unlike the first film, the sequel will not be directed by Siddharth Anand. However, the director who will be replacing Anand for Pathaan 2 has not been finalised as of now. It should also be noted that even though Siddharth Anand will not be directing Pathaan 2, this would not mark the end of his partnership with YRF. The filmmaker will soon helm Tiger Vs Pathaan.
Tiger vs Pathaan
Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan will be reuniting on screen in full-fledged roles in this YRF spy-verse film. While much is not known about the project, it is said that both actors have heard the script and are keen on returning to the screen as Tiger and Pathaan. It is unclear whether Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone will return as Zoya and Rubai.
