Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Duration: 2 Hours 40 Minutes

Genre: Anthology / Drama / Romance

Language: Hindi

Streaming On: Netflix

Cast: Konkona Sen Sharma, Radhika Apte, Vijay Varma, Abhishek Banerjee, Gurfateh Pirzada, Sana Thampi, Radhika Madan, Ali Fazal, Aditi Rao Hydari, Siddharth, Gajraj Rao

Directors: Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra, Vishal Bhardwaj

Lust Stories 3 Review: Four Stories, Four Moods, One Common Obsession

Lust Stories 3 knows exactly what its audience has come for — desire, complicated relationships and a little bit of delicious awkwardness. The third instalment of the anthology brings together Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra and Vishal Bhardwaj, with each filmmaker giving lust a completely different flavour.

The result is a mixed bag. Some stories are genuinely fun, some take interesting turns, while a couple of them seem to lose their way. Thankfully, the anthology never becomes boring as a whole, and the final segment gives it the kind of flavour you expect from a Lust Stories film.

Story: Four Stories, Four Takes on Desire

The first story, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, revolves around two married best friends played by Konkona Sen Sharma and Radhika Apte. Both women feel that something is missing from their respective marriages. What starts with a conversation about fantasies takes an unexpectedly bold turn when they consider swapping partners. With Vijay Varma and Abhishek Banerjee joining the equation, things quickly become awkward, funny and unpredictable.

Then comes Kiran Rao's story, where Gurfateh Pirzada plays twins and Sana Thampi becomes the centre of a rather complicated game involving attraction, deception and crime. This one begins like a breezy romantic story but keeps changing gears. There is a twist waiting at the end, although the story does feel more complicated than it needs to be.

Shakun Batra's segment is arguably the most emotionally engaging of the lot. Radhika Madan and Ali Fazal play a couple who are heading towards divorce but somehow cannot stay away from each other. Their arguments are intense, their relationship is messy and, strangely enough, intimacy is the one thing that still brings them together. This is where Lust Stories 3 gets more serious and explores what happens when a relationship has almost ended but the connection hasn't completely disappeared.

And then comes Vishal Bhardwaj's story, set in late-1980s Hyderabad, starring Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth. Aditi plays Saira, a woman whose curiosity about erotic literature slowly opens up a side of herself she has never really explored. Siddharth plays her husband, Badru, and the two bring a lovely mix of awkwardness, chemistry and humour. This is easily the most colourful and entertaining segment of the anthology.

Acting: Aditi Rao Hydari Steals the Show

The ensemble cast is one of the biggest strengths of Lust Stories 3. Konkona Sen Sharma and Radhika Apte bring natural chemistry and effortless comic timing to the first segment, while Vijay Varma and Abhishek Banerjee add just the right amount of awkward humour.

Radhika Madan and Ali Fazal are particularly impressive in Shakun Batra's story. Their chemistry feels lived-in, and their constant movement between anger, attraction and vulnerability gives the segment its emotional punch.

But the biggest surprise is Aditi Rao Hydari. She brings innocence, curiosity and a mischievous charm to Saira without ever making the character feel forced. Siddharth matches her beautifully, and their chemistry becomes one of the film's biggest attractions. Gajraj Rao also makes his presence count with a charming supporting act.

Direction & Storytelling: Some Hits, Some Misses

The biggest advantage of an anthology is variety, and Lust Stories 3 definitely has that.

Motwane keeps his segment breezy and playful, Kiran Rao gives hers a quirky Mumbai flavour, Shakun Batra goes deep into relationship complications, while Vishal Bhardwaj brings his trademark eccentricity and visual richness.

The problem is that not all four stories are equally strong. The first two are entertaining but don't always go beyond their basic premises. Shakun Batra's segment has more emotional weight but occasionally starts sounding like a relationship therapy session. Bhardwaj's story, meanwhile, takes its sweet time but eventually delivers the most distinctive experience.

Music & Technical Aspects

Visually, the anthology is quite appealing, with every director bringing a different texture to the screen. Mumbai gets its own energetic treatment in Kiran Rao's segment, while Bhardwaj's Hyderabad setting has a warm, colourful and almost theatrical quality.

The music also works well with the mood, particularly in the more playful portions. It doesn't overpower the stories and adds to the overall atmosphere.

What's Good

1. Strong ensemble cast
2. Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth's chemistry
3. Radhika Madan and Ali Fazal's emotionally messy relationship
4. Four directors bringing four distinct styles
5. Humour without turning the subject vulgar
6. Vishal Bhardwaj's colourful and quirky final segment

What's Not

1. The first two stories could have been sharper
2. Kiran Rao's segment gets unnecessarily complicated
3. Shakun Batra's story occasionally becomes too preachy
4. The 2-hour-40-minute runtime feels slightly stretched

Final Verdict: ★★★☆☆

Lust Stories 3 is not as consistently strong as it wants to be, but there is enough fun, chemistry, awkwardness and curiosity to make it a decent weekend watch.

Some stories make you laugh, some make you think, and some simply keep you watching to see what happens next. And when Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth take over in the final chapter, the film finally finds its most playful and distinctive voice.

Three stars. Watch it for the cast, the chemistry and the deliciously complicated take on desire — just don't expect every story to hit the same sweet spot.