Lust Stories 3: When Is It Coming to OTT?

The anthology that turned conversations around love, desire and modern relationships into mainstream OTT discussion is returning with a third chapter. Netflix has officially announced Lust Stories 3, continuing a franchise that began eight years ago and has remained one of its most recognisable Indian anthology titles.

Lust Stories 3 will start streaming on Netflix from September 18. The season consists of four separate stories directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra and Vishal Bhardwaj. The stories explore themes including love, attraction, relationships and suppressed desires, with each filmmaker bringing a different storytelling style to the anthology.

The cast includes Radhika Apte, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aditi Rao Hydari, Radhika Madan, Sana Thampi, Vijay Varma, Abhishek Banerjee, Siddharth, Ali Fazal and Gurfateh Pirzada, among others. With a combination of established performers and distinctive filmmakers, the new season is positioned as another ensemble-driven addition to the franchise.

The first Lust Stories was released in 2018, with Anurag Kashyap, Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar directing its four segments. The anthology received international attention and was nominated at the International Emmy Awards. Lust Stories 2 followed in 2023, expanding the franchise with another set of interconnected themes rather than a conventional single narrative.

For Indian OTT viewers, the significance of Lust Stories 3 lies in the franchise’s longevity. Unlike a conventional film series that depends on recurring characters, the anthology has built its identity around filmmakers, themes and performances. That format gives Netflix the flexibility to refresh the concept while retaining the brand value created by its earlier seasons.

The third season also arrives at a time when Indian streaming audiences have become more selective about anthology content. The combination of four directors with distinct filmmaking identities could therefore be more important than the franchise name itself. If the individual stories deliver strong writing and performances, Lust Stories 3 could once again become a major talking point among OTT viewers.