Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Kiran Rao’s Lust Stories 3 Segment Sparks Praise and Criticism
Kiran Rao directed one part of the movie Lust Stories 3.
Her segment is about a woman named Lisa who tricks two brothers using physical closeness.
The reviewer liked how the film shows Mumbai’s busy and chaotic life.
They also liked the camera work and the way the story slowly reveals its secrets.
However, the reviewer felt that the story did not explain what Lisa truly wanted.
They thought the romance and desire were mainly used to help tell a robbery story.
The other directors were praised for exploring desire in more complicated ways.
Because of this, the reviewer called Rao’s segment the weakest part of the anthology.
Kiran Rao’s segment is praised for its cinematography, controlled pacing, and vivid portrayal of Mumbai.
The story follows Lisa, a nail artist who uses intimacy to con two brothers and take their money.
The review argues that the segment explores the mechanics of a con more than the psychology of desire.
Compared with the other three segments, Rao’s film is described as technically polished but emotionally underdeveloped.
The reviewer calls it the anthology’s weakest segment while acknowledging Rao’s earlier work with women characters.
- Who
- Kiran Rao directed the reviewed segment, which features a woman named Lisa and two brothers.
- What
- The segment depicts Lisa using intimacy to con two brothers and disappear with their money.
- When
- The review was published around the release of Lust Stories 3; the article does not provide an exact date.
- Where
- The story is set against Mumbai’s hustle and chaos.
- Why
- The review examines whether Rao’s segment meaningfully explores desire, concluding that it focuses more on a con than on intimacy.
Strengths of the Segment
Criticisms of the Segment
Technical execution
Strengths of the Segment
The segment has good cinematography, controlled pacing, a clever slow reveal, and a refreshing portrayal of Mumbai.
Criticisms of the Segment
Technical polish cannot compensate for what the reviewer sees as a thin story about desire.
Use of intimacy
Strengths of the Segment
Physical closeness functions as an effective plot device within the con story.
Criticisms of the Segment
The reviewer says intimacy is only a side element and does not become the subject of meaningful exploration.
Character writing
Strengths of the Segment
Lisa’s deception gives the segment a clear premise and suspenseful structure.
Criticisms of the Segment
The reviewer argues that Lisa’s motivations and psychology remain unclear, making her a weakly developed character.
- Film
- Lust Stories 3
- Director reviewed
- Kiran Rao
- Central character
- Lisa, a nail artist
- Main plot
- Lisa uses physical closeness to con two brothers and take their money.
- Primary criticism
- The segment does not sufficiently explore desire or Lisa’s inner life.
- Technical assessment
- The cinematography is good, the pacing is controlled, and the slow reveal is effective.
- Comparative verdict
- The reviewer considers Rao’s segment the weakest of the anthology.