Anirudh Surya on Working with Vikramaditya Motwane and Sharing Screen Space with Konkona Sen Sharma in Lust Stories 3

Mumbai: Actor Anirudh Surya, who was last seen in the show Kanneda, is now part of the highly anticipated anthology Lust Stories 3. Featuring stories helmed by some of the country’s acclaimed filmmakers and a cast of celebrated actors, the latest instalment of the franchise has once again sparked conversations around intimacy, relationships, desire and social norms.

For Anirudh Surya, the project was also an opportunity to reunite with filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, having previously been part of his production Decoupled. Reflecting on the experience of now being directed by Motwane, Anirudh says, “I am still reeling from the experience. I have immense respect for the way he approaches his craft, especially his meticulous attention to every little detail while never trying to control the outcome. He is a true collaborator in every sense. He gives you the freedom to bring your own interpretation to a scene, and in fact, encourages you to do so. That is something I really valued about working with him as a director.”

Anirudh shot his portion of the anthology at a resort in Lonavala and was part of the shoot for two days. Despite the relatively short schedule, the experience of working under Motwane’s direction and alongside a cast he deeply admires made it particularly memorable. Talking about his co-actors Konkona Sen Sharma, Vijay Varma, Radhika Apte and Abhishek Banerjee, Anirudh says, “I think they are all stalwarts. They are testament to the fact that acting isn’t just talent, but a skill which needs to be honed. They are phenomenal actors.”

For Anirudh, sharing screen space with Konkona carried a particularly special significance. He recalls watching her in Page 3 when he was still in school and gradually realising that what drew him to her performances was the depth she brought to her characters. “I remember watching Konkona in Page 3. I was much younger at the time, in school perhaps, and didn’t really know what cinema was, though I was very drawn to her character. Later I realised I was drawn to what she brought to her characters, because whichever film I saw thereafter that she was a part of, I would find myself rooting for her,” he says.

He draws a similar connection to Radhika Apte, recalling watching her in Shor in the City. “I got a similar feeling with Radhika Apte when I saw Shor in the City, and that feeling stayed and grew with every film of hers that I saw,” Anirudh added.

One of the most talked-about aspects of the segment of the show has been its ending, which has generated considerable conversation among viewers. For Anirudh, however, shooting the sequence was all about spontaneity and having fun with the material. Anirudh shares, “It was so much fun to shoot. We were simply asked to have fun with the scene, and I definitely did. I think that comes through on screen. The ending is intentionally left open to interpretation, and for me, it was really about vibing with Konkona, the lights, the music and the entire atmosphere. I think the scene has come together beautifully.”

With Lust Stories 3, Anirudh has also experienced the reach that comes with being part of an established franchise. Since its release, he has been receiving messages and calls from viewers, particularly in response to Motwane’s segment and its climax. “The response has been great. The brand itself is very huge and a lot of people have watched it and continue to do so. I have been getting messages and calls from people I know who absolutely love the climax of Vikram sir’s film. I have nothing but the utmost joy and gratitude that I could share myself with this project,” he concludes.