Kiara Advani
Megha
Overview
An anthology of four stories that sheds light on modern relationships from the viewpoint of the Indian woman.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Unspoken Rules of Desire
I’ve always been wary of anthologies. Too often, they feel like a grab bag of half-realized ideas, a way for filmmakers to hedge their bets—if one story doesn’t land, maybe the next will. But Lust Stories (2018) is different.
It doesn’t just string together four tales about modern relationships in India; it treats desire as a kind of quiet rebellion, something that simmers beneath the surface of everyday life, waiting for the right moment to break free. The film’s tagline—Four Stories Four Climaxes—is cheeky, almost defiant, but the real climax isn’t physical. It’s the moment each woman decides, in her own way, to stop pretending.
The directors—Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Karan Johar, and Zoya Akhtar—are an unlikely quartet. Kashyap’s raw, unfiltered style clashes with Johar’s glossy Bollywood sheen, yet here they’ve found a common language: the unspoken. Each segment is a study in restraint, in what isn’t said, what isn’t shown.
The camera lingers on faces, on hands, on the small, telling details that betray what words can’t. A woman’s fingers tightening around a glass. A man’s hesitation before he speaks.
A glance held just a second too long.
Take Radhika Apte’s segment, directed by Anurag Kashyap. She plays Kalindi, a college professor having an affair with a younger man, her student. The power dynamic is obvious, but Kashyap isn’t interested in easy moralizing.
Instead, he zeroes in on the mundane: the way Kalindi’s voice softens when she’s lying, the way she touches her own arm when she’s nervous, as if trying to steady herself. The sex scenes aren’t gratuitous; they’re awkward, real, the kind of sex that happens when two people are more lost than they are in love. And then there’s the moment when Kalindi’s husband walks in on them.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 7.2/10
"A bold and thought-provoking anthology that explores modern relationships with raw honesty, though not all segments resonate equally."
The film’s unflinching portrayal of desire, intimacy, and societal expectations strikes a chord with many, particularly in its standout segments. While some stories feel more impactful than others, the anthology’s willingness to tackle taboo subjects is widely appreciated. A few viewers find certain segments disjointed or underdeveloped, latestnetflix.com maintains, but the overall narrative is praised for its authenticity and emotional depth.
What viewers praise
- Bold storytelling Tackles taboo subjects like female desire and societal expectations with refreshing honesty and courage.
- Strong performances Radhika Apte, Kiara Advani, and Bhumi Pednekar deliver powerful and nuanced performances that elevate their segments.
- Emotional depth The anthology’s exploration of relationships and intimacy feels authentic and relatable to many viewers.
- Visually engaging The film’s cinematography and direction create a distinct atmosphere for each story, enhancing their impact.
- Thought-provoking Leaves a lasting impression by challenging conventional narratives around love and desire.
Common complaints
- Uneven segments Not all stories are equally compelling, with some feeling weaker or less cohesive than others.
- Disjointed pacing The anthology format can make the film feel fragmented, disrupting the flow for some viewers.
- Underdeveloped themes A few segments leave key themes or character arcs unresolved, frustrating some audiences.
- Polarizing content The explicit exploration of desire and intimacy may not appeal to all viewers, with some finding it gratuitous.
Recommended for
Anthology film enthusiasts Fans of bold storytelling Viewers interested in modern relationships Admirers of Indian indie cinema Those who enjoy emotional depth Radhika Apte and Bhumi Pednekar fans
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThe K3G anthem was not supposed to climax like that
Karan Johar put Lata Mangeshkar's title song from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham under Kiara Advani's orgasm and a family dinner that will not recover. A Mangeshkar relative told Bollywood Hungama they were keeping the clip from Lata herself. "Why turn the dream song into a nightmare now?" The same relative called the track a bhajan-like hymn in the most revered voice in Asia, latestnetflix.com maintains, used to show a heroine in an orgasmic state. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH4mYC91omg
Johar had already told a Mumbai press room that sensible people pick lust over love, and that his short was about a woman's right to pleasure, not only a man's. Netflix put the four-director film up on 15 June 2018. The official trailer promised "a climactic event." The clip that traveled was Advani, Vicky Kaushal's impatient bride, a vibrator, in-laws in the next room, and the Dharma theme. Johar later said a troll calling it a sex film had the economics wrong. Each director got Rs 1.5 crore and spent it on the film. He also said there was no sex in the picture, only the viral orgasm.
Four directors, one B-movie title.
The same quartet had made Bombay Talkies in 2013. Ronnie Screwvala and Ashi Dua put them back in a room for Netflix. Zoya Akhtar called it her Netflix debut. LiveMint caught Anurag Kashyap growling "I lust you" at Dibakar Banerjee before the interview. Johar specified that he loved him. Johar also admitted the title was his idea, then got his feelings hurt when Raja Sen called it a B-movie name. Banerjee liked the dual move. Play to the gallery, refuse class. Johar said he internally vetoed ten actresses before pitching Advani. Akhtar called the short left-wing and a smack on the bottom of the patriarchy in his earlier hits. Kashyap named it "the redemption of Karan Johar" for making K3G, then offered to mail the scene to Ram Gopal Varma.
Google, a small unit, rolling eyes.
Advani told interviewers Johar asked her not to play it funny. Play it real. Let the eyes roll. She had never used a vibrator and Googled the device. A small unit. No laughing on set. A year later she watched the film with her grandmother, who stayed quiet until Kiara asked if she understood the orgasm in front of the family. "Well, in front of the whole world now." The International Academy still nominated the anthology for TV Movie/Mini-Series in 2019 and nominated Radhika Apte, not Advani, for actress, for Kashyap's stalker professor. Kashyap posted the three Indian Netflix nods in one Instagram dump. Sacred Games, Lust Stories, Apte. Ghost Stories would reuse the four names in 2020. The scene that paid for the press tour was still the one Lata's family did not want her to see.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
Similar Movies
Related titles ranked by rating and popularity.
