The recently released teaser for Alia Bhatt and Sharvari's highly anticipated spy thriller, Alpha, has ignited a significant online discussion, with many viewers pointing out striking similarities to classic films. Social media users have drawn parallels between key sequences in Alpha and Luc Besson's 1990 French thriller, La Femme Nikita, as well as Clint Eastwood's 2014 war drama, American Sniper.
Comparisons to Luc Besson's 'La Femme Nikita'
The core of the controversy stems from Alpha's opening sequence, which shows a young Alia Bhatt's character sharing a meal with Bobby Deol's character on her 18th birthday. Instead of a typical celebration, she receives a card with a room number, signaling her first assignment as a highly trained operative. This scene has been widely compared to a pivotal moment in La Femme Nikita.
In Besson's cult classic, the character Bob (played by Tchéky Karyo) takes Nikita (Anne Parillaud) to a fine-dining restaurant before handing her a gun and assigning her a mission. Viewers noted the uncanny resemblance in the setup and dramatic reveal, with one social media user commenting, "The opening scene is copied 90% from the scene in Luc Besson's action classic La Femme Nikita. The plot is also similar."
Echoes of 'American Sniper' Dialogue
Beyond La Femme Nikita, some eagle-eyed fans also identified similarities in dialogue. A wolf-and-sheep analogy used by Bobby Deol's character in Alpha reportedly mirrors a similar philosophical discussion featured in American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper. While some suggested it was simply "inspired," the repeated claims of derivation have fueled the debate.
About 'Alpha'
Directed by Shiv Rawail and produced by Yash Raj Films under the banner of Aditya Chopra, Alpha is set to be the first female-led film in the expanding Yash Raj Films' Spy Universe. This franchise includes successful titles like Ek Tha Tiger, Pathaan, and War. The film, also starring Sharvari and Bobby Deol, is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 3, 2026.
The discussions online highlight the intense scrutiny new film releases face, especially when teasers hint at familiar cinematic tropes or sequences. Whether these similarities are intentional homages, coincidences, or outright inspirations remains a key talking point among cinema enthusiasts.