If you prefer audio, a spoiler-free ranking of Lust Stories 3 is embedded below.
Just like the first and second films, Lust Stories 3 is a collection of four short films by different directors exploring desire and how it affects those caught in its grip. I am going to rank them quickly in this article and write what worked for me and what didn’t.
Rank 4: Kiran Rao’s short starring Gurfateh Pirzada and Sana Thampi as two young hustlers who begin a romance in Mumbai, but one of them has a shady side gig which complicates things.
What works: The cinematography is eye-catching and cinematic, capturing Mumbai in an almost aspirational light despite its protagonists hustling to get by. It’s also got an interesting twist, which leads to a comedic climax.
What doesn’t: The chemistry between the leads isn’t memorable. And if you really think about it, the plot is pretty formulaic.
Rank 3: Shakun Batra’s short starring Radhika Madan and Ali Fazal as a couple who’re getting a divorce but start hooking up behind their lawyers’ backs.
What works: The story comically illustrates the complexities of marriage and the difficulties of uncoupling, especially when you’re still physically attracted to your partner.
What doesn’t: Unfortunately, once again, the chemistry feels almost non-existent. Radhika Madan delivers a strong performance, though, while Ali Fazal is pretty funny as a typical mama’s boy.
Rank 2: Vikramaditya Motwane short starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Radhika Apte as 40-something best-friends who take inspiration from a Korean drama to revive their sex lives.
What works: Radhika Apte and Konkona Sen Sharma are excellent as Kandivali BFFs going full K-drama mode, and their antics keep the short consistently funny.
What Doesn’t: The male characters barely make a mark. In fact, you almost wish this weren’t a Lust Stories 3 short at all, but a slice-of-life film or series about Konkona and Radhika playing work colleagues navigating a whole bunch of problems together.
Rank 1: Vishal Bhardwaj’s short starring Aditi Rao Hydari as Saira, a doctoral student of Urdu literature whose rather unsatisfying sex life with her doctor husband Badru (Siddharth) inspires some considerably more exciting fantasies.
What works: Pretty much everything. Set in 1980s Hyderabad, the short is colorful, cheeky and very Bollywood in tone, with playful dream sequences and a great background score. Aditi Rao Hydari is delightful as the shy but mischievous Saira, while Siddharth plays her busy doctor husband and also the swoonier man of her fantasies. And finally, here’s a Lust Stories 3 couple with some watch-worthy chemistry!
What doesn’t: Well, everything worked perfectly for me, especially because the short cheekily celebrates smutty novels and erotica. But non-readers might not get quite as much of a kick out of it. The whole thing is also exaggerated, theatrical and comical, and if that’s not your thing, Saira’s literary horniness probably won’t win you over.
Watch ‘Lust Stories 3’ on Netflix.
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