Talks about sex and desires are treated as taboo in India. The stigma attached to it has led to misunderstandings, dissatisfaction, and, many times, separation. Since its first season, the franchise has tried to break that boundary and start the conversation. Lust Stories 3 is a hit addition to the legacy of fearlessly breaking the stereotypes around sex, desires, female pleasure, partner-swapping, and the structural collapse of marriage.
The Plotline
The third installment of the Netflix anthology features four distinct short films helmed by Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra, and Vishal Bhardwaj
Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, the first story follows besties Shonali (Konkona Sen Sharma) and Kalindi (Radhika Apte), who feel disconnected from their partners, emotionally and physically. After watching a Korean drama together, Shonali comes up with an idea: husband swapping to spice up their sex lives. While the idea itself is shocking, what happens next is completely unexpected.
The second story, directed by Kiran Rao, revolves around twins played by Gurfateh Pirzada and their lover, played by Sana Thampi. However, the plot turns upside down from a normal love saga into a story of drugs, mafia, and chaos, as the twin brothers get involved.
The third story, directed by Shakun Batra, takes a realistic approach to marriage. It explores the complexities of marriage, showing what it feels like when the home a couple builds together becomes the topic of discussion before a judge during divorce proceedings. Starring Ali Fazal and Radhika Madan as the pair, their part handles the divorce drama while staying true to its core theme of sex.
Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the fourth story focuses on female desires and pleasures, with Aditi Rao Hydari and her husband Siddharth in the central roles. The short film rightfully explores what women want.
Direction, Craft And More
Vikramaditya Motwane, Shakun Batra, Kiran Rao and Vishal Bhardwaj, the best in the industry, united to deliver a masterpiece, and Lust Stories 3 rightfully raises the bar yet again.
Vikramaditya’s husband-swapping idea stands out, with Konkona and Radhika alongside in the cast opposite Abhishek Banerjee and Vijay Varma. As the first story, they set the tone right, gripping viewers with unexpected twists and a raw, desperate depiction of intimacy.
Kiran Rao handled the thriller-lover story beautifully, elevating the experience. While Shakun Batra brings a story that is different from the first two, it will make you smile, laugh, and cry at the same time.
Last but not least, Vishal Bhardwaj wins in the presentation department, especially in how brightly and attractively he portrays the characters, representing female desires and pleasures.
All the short films are a delight to watch, but my personal favorite is Shakun Batra. He created a masterpiece that leaves no stone unturned.
From cinematography and music to casting, the film scores in every department.
Performance
The casting has always been top-notch for Lust Stories, and season 3 is no exception. Whether bringing Konkona Sen Sharma and Radhika Apte together or pairing Aditi Rao Hydari with Siddharth, every story has the right cast.
Konkona is energetic, witty, and unapologetically bold in making her move, while Radhika carries the fear and prejudice effortlessly. Abhishek Banerjee and Vijay Varma play their part well.
Radhika Madan and Ali Fazal were stunning. They command attention with their chemistry, especially in the emotionally heavy scenes.
Gurfateh Pirzada in the double role is a good surprise, with Sana Thampi stealing hearts.
Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth were the stars. They are a big reason to watch the film.
Our editorial rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
