Lust Stories 3 creator Ashi Dua: ‘Women write about men they want to be with’

Ashi Dua

Social media is filled with opinions and outrage over women - sometimes about her dressing choice, other times about her postpartum body. Such instances made creator-producer Ashi Dua wonder how Lust Stories 3, an anthology centred on female desire, would be received. "We have to think 10 times before we put anything out there. The idea is not to offend anybody's sensibilities, but to stay authentic to the reality. What's unfortunate is that people get offended about reality," she told mid-day over a call.

For Dua, however, the intention has never been to provoke for the sake of provocation. Instead, it is to tell meaningful stories sensitively. That sensitivity, she believes, begins with choosing filmmakers who understand what the Netflix franchise aims to do with female desire. This time, she has roped in Vishal Bhardwaj, Vikramaditya Motwane, Kiran Rao, and Shakun Batra. "‘Come watch my film because I have explicit things happening' is never the idea. We want people to watch the stories because they are engaging, entertaining, and saying something. I've had the opportunity to work with great minds whom you can trust to take care of the subject in the most sensitive manner."

(L-R) Siddharth and Konkona Sensharma in ‘Lust Stories 3'. Pics/youtube, Instagram

Over its three instalments, Dua has also noticed an interesting pattern - that female directors, including Zoya Akhtar, Konkona Sensharma, and now Rao, not only tell women's stories authentically, but also shape unique men. "The way they write and portray men is beautiful. For instance, the way they will show a man reacting to a certain situation, or how a woman wants to be felt - only a woman can write that. They write about men they want to be with, or watch. You possibly won't find a male [director] depicting a man like that."

Vishal Bhardwaj, Kiran Rao, Shakun Batra and Vikramaditya Motwane

Four directors, four shorts

. Vishal Bhardwaj's short is led by Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth
. Kiran Rao's story is fronted by Gurfateh Pirzada and Sana Thampi
. Shakun Batra has cast Ali Fazal and Radhikka Madan in his film
. Vikramaditya Motwane's film stars Radhika Apte, Vijay Varma, Konkona Sensharma, and Abhishek Banerjee