‘Lust Stories 3’ Released on Netflix: Four Directors, Four Takes on Desire; Reviews Call It Uneven but Engaging

Netflix has released ‘Lust Stories 3’, the third instalment of its anthology franchise, bringing together filmmakers Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra and Vishal Bhardwaj. The film began streaming on September 18 and features an ensemble cast including Radhika Apte, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditi Rao Hydari, Radhika Madan, Vijay Varma, Ali Fazal, Siddharth, Abhishek Banerjee and Gurfateh Pirzada.

The four stories approach desire, intimacy, marriage and female sexuality from markedly different perspectives. Motwane’s segment centres on two women and their husbands, while Rao explores a seemingly casual relationship that takes unexpected turns. Batra focuses on a couple whose marriage is falling apart even as their physical relationship remains intense. Bhardwaj’s story, set in 1987 Hyderabad, follows a married woman navigating desire, imagination and the constraints of her circumstances.

What are the reviews saying?

Early critical feedback has been largely positive but not uniformly enthusiastic, with several reviewers describing the anthology as uneven while praising individual performances and concepts.

The Indian Express called the film “uneven but enjoyable”, highlighting Konkona Sen Sharma and Radhika Apte for bringing particular energy and depth to their segments.

The New Indian Express was more enthusiastic, giving the film 3.5/5 and arguing that the third instalment more directly embraces the franchise’s exploration of sexuality and desire. The review particularly praised Aditi Rao Hydari and Bhardwaj’s segment, while finding some of the other stories less successful.

The Federal, however, found the anthology difficult to view as a cohesive whole. It praised the chemistry between Apte and Sen Sharma and several of the individual ideas, but argued that the execution varies considerably across the four stories.

Other reviews have similarly pointed to the inconsistency inherent in the anthology format. Rediff described the film as “funny, fizzy, frivolous”, while The Times of India gave it 3/5, noting that its segments do not consistently achieve the same impact.

Overall, the early response suggests that ‘Lust Stories 3’ is being received as a more assured and entertaining entry than a uniformly brilliant anthology. Its strongest consensus appears to be around the performances, the willingness to place female desire at the centre of the stories and the distinctive approaches of its four directors, while the principal criticism is that the quality and emotional impact vary from segment to segment. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists seven critic reviews, with several reviews landing around the three-star range.