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Lust Stories 3 Shows Talent, But Wastes Its Potential
Lust Stories 3 is a collection of four connected films about relationships, sex and desire.
The stories use different styles, including comedy, drama and fantasy.
Kiran Rao’s film is praised for being especially clever and funny.
Shakun Batra’s story follows a married couple who want a divorce because they do not have enough sex.
Vikramaditya Motwane’s film is about two couples considering swapping partners to revive their relationships.
Vishal Bhardwaj’s film follows a woman in Hyderabad whose romantic books influence her fantasies.
The reviewer liked some performances and ideas in all four films.
However, the review says the anthology often becomes repetitive, predictable or too exaggerated, and does not fulfill its potential.
Kiran Rao’s segment is praised for inventive storytelling, humor and clever payback.
Shakun Batra’s marriage drama explores a couple divorcing over a lack of sex but feels repetitive.
Vikramaditya Motwane’s partner-swapping story is described as predictable despite its strong cast.
Vishal Bhardwaj’s Hyderabad-set film depicts a woman’s sexual fantasies and desire for liberation.
The review finds talent and occasional spark across the anthology but ultimately calls for a rethink.
- Who
- The anthology features films by Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra, Vikramaditya Motwane and Vishal Bhardwaj, with actors including Gurfateh Pirzada, Ali Fazal, Radhika Madan, Konkona Sensharma and Aditi Rao Hydari.
- What
- A critical review of Netflix’s four-film anthology Lust Stories 3.
- Where
- The stories use several settings, including a nail salon, an elevator and Hyderabad.
- When
- In the anthology’s third outing; no specific date is provided.
- Why
- The films examine relationships, sex and mostly female desire through comedy, drama and fantasy.
What Works
What Falls Short
Storytelling
What Works
Kiran Rao’s segment uses an inventive version of a familiar Bollywood trope and delivers a humorous payback.
What Falls Short
The anthology’s connecting devices, including a poetry book and recurring encounters, only loosely link the stories and may not always make sense.
Themes of Desire
What Works
The films openly discuss sexual desire, women’s liberation and the need to feel seen.
What Falls Short
Some stories become too talkative, repetitive or exaggerated, weakening their emotional impact.
Cast and Potential
What Works
The anthology brings together major talent and includes strong performances, particularly from Konkona Sensharma and Aditi Rao Hydari.
What Falls Short
The review argues that the strong casts and promising premises are often wasted through predictability or uneven execution.
Key facts
- Anthology
- Lust Stories 3 contains four interconnected films.
- Distributor
- Netflix
- Most praised segment
- Kiran Rao’s unnamed film, praised for its clever storytelling and humor.
- Shakun Batra’s film
- Centers on a divorcing couple whose marriage is affected by a lack of sex.
- Vikramaditya Motwane’s film
- Focuses on partner swapping as a way to revive two couples’ sex lives.
- Vishal Bhardwaj’s film
- Follows Saira, a woman in Hyderabad whose sexual imagination is shaped by Mills & Boon romances.
- Overall assessment
- The review praises the anthology’s talent and occasional energy but concludes that it needs a rethink.
Sources
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