I resisted rewatching Lust Stories (2018) before settling down to review its sequel. The original was like a prized poker hand of aces — dealt by the familiar quartet of Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee and Zoya Akhtar — and I did not want these card sharks influencing my judgment about the fresh bet. My efforts, it transpires, were in vain. The maiden anthology was just so good that it was impossible not to compare. Somehow, within their limited run-times, the filmmakers had managed to weave rich tapestries of lust and desire, insecurities and obsessive behaviour. There were performances that stung, with wit and humour to match.