Lust Stories returns with new movie and a captivating teaser

Released in 2018, the multi-starrer Netflix anthology film Lust Stories is all set to make a comeback on June 29, 2023. The teaser of the movie shows that Lust Stories 2 carries the legacy and delves into dimensions of love, sexual desire and relationships in modern-day India through a women’s lens. 

The teaser hooks the audience, adding a touch of humour when Neena Gupta playing the character of an elderly mother says, “shaadi se pehle no test drive?” (No test drive before marriage?). An elderly woman in an Indian family indicating pre-marital affairs reflects the theme of the film, normalizing social taboos in India. 

A look back at Lust Stories and how it spoke volumes for women empowerment

Lust Stories explored different aspects of love, desire, and relationships. 

What makes it stand out among the other movies and series on the OTT platform is the diversified group of directors who put their unique storytelling styles and perspective and making the movie an engaging exploration of human relationships and sexuality. 

The film showcases female characters who navigate their desires, relationships, and sexual autonomy with agency and empowerment. 

Through thought-provoking narratives, the series explores the concept of women stuck in stereotypical societal boundaries that grants both freedom and constraint. Challenging the so called thought process of society protecting the culture it highlights how the system can offer liberation while simultaneously suppressing it.

Anurag Kashyap’s story on women discovering the concept of ‘casual relationship’ and the blurred boundaries it entails

Kalindi, a college teacher played by Radhika Apte embarks on a journey through the ambiguous world of casual relationships, marked by restlessness and fear. 

Kalindi is a married woman who, inspired by her husband’s past flings, indulges in the idea of open marriage and engages in a casual relationship with one of her students. Although stated as a ‘casual’ relationship, Kalindi is caught in a whirlwind of emotions she struggles to understand and articulates when the student moves on and finds a girlfriend. 

Apte reflects relatable urban truths and desires, particularly the confusion that arises from being caught between fleeting moments of euphoria and enduring moments of despair. 

Zoya Akhtar’s intricate dynamics of power and its influence on suppressed desire

Challenging the traditional notions of love, Akhtar’s story revolves around a maid played by Bhumi Pednekar as Sudha who is involved in a sexual relationship with her employer’s son Ajay. 

Sudha is emotionally invested but for Ajay it's one of many luxuries in his life. Pednekar’s role portrays the complexity of character, showcasing her longing and aspirations. 

This relationship is a call out to all those women who are suppressed through power dynamics sexually. The story draws attention to social inequalities and pursuit of personal fulfilment exploited within it.

Dibakar Banerjee’s on women and infidelity

Banerjee’s story explores dynamics of deteriorating marriage and complexities of infidelity. The central character Reena, played by Manisha Koirala, is a middle-aged woman who finds herself dissatisfied with her married life and yearning for a more fulfilling sexual experience. 

Banerjee portrays Salman played by Sanjay Kapoor as a controlling husband. Reena happens to engage in an affair with Sudhir (Jaideep Ahlawat) who happens to be Salman’s best friend. 

This story speaks for the women who are trapped in stagnant marriages where sexual satisfaction is neglected and considered as a taboo for age old women. 

The story allows her to assert her own freedom and depicts her infidelity as a form of self discovery and empowerment. This emphasizes the importance of a woman’s agency and their ability to challenge societal expectations.

Karan Johar’s take on lack of sex education and sexual incompetence in a marriage

Through the character of Sandhya played by Kiara Advani, a school teacher, the narrative sheds light on the struggles faced by women when it comes to sexual empowerment within relationships. 

Sandhya desires to educate her husband Paras, played by Vicky Kaushal about intimacy seeking to bridge the gap between them of understanding pleasure.

The story challenges traditional notions of masculinity and highlights the importance of open communication in Indian marriage. 

Johar’s story raises questions about gender roles. It underscores the importance of women’s agency in expressing their desires which is considered as a taboo in the society.

Women, desire and society

Lust Stories talks about issues women face in a relationship in India and how they are quiet on choosing their sexual desires. The series is set to release a second version of it featuring a strong cast including Neena Gupta, Kajol, Tammanah Bhatia and others. The movie has been directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, Konkona Sensharma, R Balki, and Sujoy Ghosh.