It's Confirmed! Alia Bhatt To Headline YRF Spy Universe Film, Shoot To Start Later This Year

Yash Raj Films' CEO, Akshaye Widhani officially confirmed the long-speculated news of Alia Bhatt joining the blockbuster YRF Spy Universe on Tuesday at FICCI Frames.

Alia Bhatt is joining the blockbuster YRF Spy Universe.

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New Delhi: Yash Raj Films' CEO, Akshaye Widhani officially confirmed the long-speculated news of Alia Bhatt joining the blockbuster YRF Spy Universe on Tuesday at FICCI Frames. After months of widespread speculation, the CEO unveiled the development, stating that Alia Bhatt is set to headline a Spy Universe film, with production scheduled to commence later this year. 

When pressed for more details about the YRF Spy Universe, Widhani shared, "I'll share the worst-kept secret in the industry, which is, Alia Bhatt is headlining a Spy Universe film, and that the schedule starts later this year. But you know, talking about this spy universe, we are actually just so thrilled and excited about having this IP in the studio." 

He went on to express his enthusiasm for the YRF Spy Universe, describing it as a "financial and cultural juggernaut" and one of the studio's most prized intellectual properties. Widhani hinted at more projects within the spy universe, teasing, "There's a lot of stuff that's going to come on the spy universe. We're going to see more and more films getting made under it." 

The yet-to-be-titled film will see Alia Bhatt teaming up with rising Bollywood star Sharvari Wagh, and together, they will portray super-agents in this action-packed entertainer. 

The YRF Spy Universe, which kicked off with Salman Khan's 'Ek Tha Tiger' in 2012, has seen subsequent successes with 'Tiger Zinda Hai' (2017) and 'War' (2019), featuring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. The franchise expanded with 'Pathaan,' starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham, followed by 'Tiger 3' with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. The upcoming project is 'War 2,' starring Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr., and Kiara Advani, directed by Ayan Mukerji. 

Widhani also highlighted YRF's success in the streaming space, mentioning the global hit show 'The Railway Men,' which focused on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and trended at number three on Netflix. He noted, "We are a company that is not afraid to fail. We want to be able to do disruptive content." 

Speaking about the cultural impact of YRF, Widhani shared insights into the success of 'The Romantics,' a docu-series celebrating YRF's 50-year influence on pop culture. He emphasized the cultural connection audiences have with YRF, saying, "There is a song that played at your wedding, which was from a YRF movie. There was a time in life when you went to watch a movie, and that was a YRF movie, and you went with that certain someone which you might be with or might not be with, but you still have fond memories of." 

Widhani concluded by acknowledging the nostalgia associated with YRF, stating, "The sheer nostalgia here, as to the youth connected to them because again, there was a story about their family, or a movie that they have watched and loved. Not to forget, it also had Aditya Chopra making his debut on screen, and that gave us an incredible amount of eyeballs!"