Netflix’s popular anthology franchise Lust Stories is set to return with its third instalment, bringing together acclaimed filmmakers Vikramaditya Motwane, Vishal Bhardwaj, Kiran Rao and Shakun Batra. Lust Stories 3, announced during Netflix’s Next on Netflix slate for 2026, will feature four standalone stories that delve into relationships, desire and intimacy through distinct creative perspectives.
The International Emmy-nominated anthology will continue its signature format of independent narratives, each shaped by the unique voice and sensibility of its director.
Motwane, whose recent series Black Warrant emerged as a major hit on the platform, said the project offered him a chance to venture into unfamiliar creative territory. “I thought I’d shift genres a bit. I haven’t really explored sex or comedy, so I felt this was the right opportunity to try both at the same time,” he said.
Filmmaker Kiran Rao, known for Dhobi Ghat and Laapataa Ladies, said her segment allowed her to capture the spirit of youthful recklessness. “I wanted to explore the feeling of being young and carefree — characters who are free-spirited, spontaneous, and make impulsive, sometimes bad or wild decisions after a chance encounter. It really let me tap into the thrill of flirting with danger. It was a lot of fun — the playful side of lust,” she said.
Shakun Batra, reflecting on themes of love and desire, offered a metaphorical take. “Not in my personal life, just to clarify,” he joked. “I enjoy exploring both in storytelling. Lust is like writing a first draft at 2 am with a drink in hand — full of typos. Love is waking up sober, realising it’s messy, but choosing to rewrite and edit it.”
Vishal Bhardwaj, meanwhile, said he was drawn to the anthology format and viewed the theme from a different lens. “For me, this is more about erotica than lust. Lust has many meanings — like lust for life. Here, we’re specifically exploring erotica,” he explained.
The ensemble cast of Lust Stories 3 includes Radhika Apte, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vijay Varma, Abhishek Banerjee, Gurfateh Pirzada, Sana Thampi, Ali Fazal, Radhika Madan, Siddharth and Aditi Rao Hydari.
The Lust Stories franchise began in 2018 with segments directed by Karan Johar, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Anurag Kashyap. The second instalment, released in 2023, featured films by Konkona Sen Sharma, Amit Sharma, Sujoy Ghosh and R. Balki.
