Bollywood arrives in July with a mix of spy thrillers, comedies, and action franchises as studios push out summer blockbusters. Alia Bhatt’s “Alpha” and the long-awaited “Dhamaal 4” headline a busy release slate.

“Alpha,” starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, landed July 3 after being preponed from its original date. The film is positioned as a high-octane spy action thriller, part of a larger espionage universe Bollywood is trying to build. Alia leads an ensemble cast in what producers are calling one of the summer’s biggest bets.

“Dhamaal 4” follows, arriving July 10. The comedy franchise returns with its core cast of Aditya Roy Kapur, Rajpal Yadav, and Arshad Warsi hunting for buried treasure while evading an IRS officer. The first three films made money, so expectations are the formula holds.

Comedy and Tamil Releases

Beyond the headliners, July brings “Uttar Da Puttar” and “Raftaar,” mid-budget comedies targeting family and youth audiences. Studios know summer is when families go to theaters together. Light comedies with stars that appeal to multiple generations fill that need.

South Indian films are also arriving in Hindi dubbing, expanding Bollywood’s reach across the country. A Tamil action film and a Kannada comedy have both been dubbed and timed for July release in Hindi-speaking regions.

OTT Keeps Pace

“Ab Hoga Hisaab Season 2” launched July 3 on Amazon MX Player with a strong ensemble cast including Shaheer Sheikh, Sanjay Kapoor, and Mouni Roy. The crime drama is free to watch, helping the platform maintain engagement even as it competes with theatrical releases.

Streaming services are learning they can’t win the theater fight. Instead, they’re offering free or low-cost shows that keep audiences glued between theatrical runs. “Ab Hoga Hisaab” is that play—prestige content without the ticket price.

July’s mix of spy action, comedy, and crime drama suggests Indian audiences want variety. No single genre dominates anymore.