Update, 15 October 2026: Lust Stories 3 has been streaming on Netflix since 18 September. Parts of this guide were written before release, so see the section “Lust Stories 3 Is Now Streaming” below for the segment-by-segment line-up and early reviews.
Netflix’s most talked-about Indian anthology franchise is back for a third round, and this time it’s arriving with its strongest lineup yet. Lust Stories 3 premieres September 18, 2026, bringing together four of Indian cinema’s most distinctive directors and a genuinely stacked ensemble cast. As of this writing, Netflix has confirmed the full cast and director lineup but has not revealed which actors appear in which of the four segments, keeping most of the actual story details under wraps ahead of premiere day.
Who’s Involved: The Four Directors and What They Bring
Vikramaditya Motwane
Known for Lootera and Udaan, Motwane returns to feature-length storytelling with one of the anthology’s four segments. This marks his first entry into the Lust Stories franchise.
Kiran Rao
The filmmaker behind Laapataa Ladies brings her distinct, character-driven sensibility to the anthology, joining the franchise for the first time in this installment.
Shakun Batra
Known for Gehraiyaan and Kapoor & Sons, Batra directs a segment reportedly featuring Radhika Madan opposite Ali Fazal, based on audition reports from before the film entered production.
Vishal Bhardwaj
One of Hindi cinema’s most acclaimed directors, known for Maqbool and Haider, Bhardwaj joins the anthology for the first time with this installment.
The Full Cast
Netflix has confirmed a ten-actor ensemble across the anthology’s four segments: Radhika Apte, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vijay Varma, Abhishek Banerjee, Gurfateh Pirzada, Sana Thampi, Ali Fazal, Radhika Madan, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Siddharth. Notably, Konkona Sen Sharma directed and co-wrote a segment in Lust Stories 2; this time she steps in front of the camera as an actor instead. Netflix has not disclosed which actors appear in which specific segment.
What the Trailer Reveals
The official trailer, released September 9, 2026, leans into the franchise’s signature tone: awkward interactions, difficult conversations, and unspoken tension, balanced with moments of humor. According to Netflix’s synopsis, the anthology explores lust, love, relationships, and repressed desire across its four chapters, with each director’s segment carrying its own distinct tone rather than blending into a single uniform experience. The trailer deliberately avoids revealing how the four stories connect or resolve.
How It Compares to Previous Seasons
The original Lust Stories (2018), directed by Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, and Dibakar Banerjee, earned a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and received two Emmy nominations, including Best Actress for Radhika Apte. Lust Stories 2 (2023), with segments from Konkona Sen Sharma, R. Balki, Sujoy Ghosh, and Amit Ravindernath Sharma, saw a more mixed critical response at 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. With this third installment marking the franchise’s first anthology to reach a third season, and bringing in four directors with markedly different sensibilities from either previous cast, expectations are high that it can recapture the critical momentum of the original.
Current Status
As of September 15, 2026, Lust Stories 3 is fully complete and scheduled, with the release date, cast, and director lineup all officially confirmed by Netflix. The trailer is out and circulating widely. What remains unknown, and likely to stay that way until premiere day, is exactly how the ten confirmed actors are distributed across the four segments, and how each individual story unfolds.
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Lust Stories 3 Is Now Streaming: The Four Segments
Lust Stories 3 premiered on Netflix on 18 September 2026, with all four segments released together. This guide was first written before release, when Netflix had not said which actors appear in which story. Early reviews now fill that in.
Vikramaditya Motwane’s segment follows marriages that have lost their spark and centres on partner swapping, with Konkona Sen Sharma and Radhika Apte, alongside Vijay Varma and Abhishek Banerjee. Kiran Rao’s story is set in Mumbai and stars Gurfateh Pirzada, who plays a pizza delivery boy, with newcomer Sana Thampi. Shakun Batra’s film pairs Ali Fazal as Varun and Radhika Madan as Sailee, a couple who married quickly and now argue about almost everything. Vishal Bhardwaj’s segment is set in Hyderabad in the late 1980s, with Aditi Rao Hydari as Saira and Siddharth as Badru.
Reviews are mixed. Bollywood Shaadis praised the female gaze and the performances but felt several endings were rushed, while T2 Online found the anthology sparked to life only in parts and argued that the franchise needs a rethink.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Lust Stories 3 release?
Lust Stories 3 premieres on Netflix on September 18, 2026.
Who is in the cast of Lust Stories 3?
The confirmed cast includes Radhika Apte, Konkona Sen Sharma, Vijay Varma, Abhishek Banerjee, Gurfateh Pirzada, Sana Thampi, Ali Fazal, Radhika Madan, Aditi Rao Hydari, and Siddharth.
Who directed Lust Stories 3?
Four directors each helmed one segment: Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra, and Vishal Bhardwaj.
Is Lust Stories 3 connected to Lust Stories 2?
No. Each Lust Stories installment features entirely new stories, casts, and directors; only the anthology format and general theme carry over between seasons.
Related Belloria Stories
Future Belloria article opportunity: Lust Stories 3 segment-by-segment review, once the film premieres and segment details are confirmed.
Future Belloria article opportunity: Every director who has worked on the Lust Stories franchise across all three seasons.
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