From Runway to Reel: Kerala’s Sana Thampi Steps Into Bollywood With Kiran Rao’s ‘Lust Stories 3’

Born and raised in the lush backwaters of Kerala, Sana Thampi spent the better part of a decade strutting down international runways, snapping for high‑fashion editorials and the biggest commercial campaigns. Think Sabyasachi, Rahul Mishra, Vogue and even the rugged vibe of AllSaints – her portfolio reads like a stylish who’s‑who of the Indian fashion circuit.

Now the same model who once posed beside the latest Levi’s denim line is swapping the catwalk for a camera dolly. Kiran Rao, the filmmaker behind the buzz‑worthy ‘Laapataa Ladies’, has tapped Thampi for a role in the third instalment of Netflix’s anthology series ‘Lust Stories’. The project, slated to drop on September 18, will see her sharing screen space with newcomer‑actor Gurfateh Pirzada.

Rao’s segment, part of a quartet of stories that explore love, desire and intimacy, has been kept tightly under wraps. What we do know is that Thampi’s character sits at the centre of the narrative, giving the Kerala‑born beauty a chance to stretch beyond posing and into performance. For a model whose career has been built on still images, this is a big, breath‑taking leap.

‘Lust Stories 3’ isn’t just any anthology – it’s a continuation of a franchise that started back in 2018 with directors like Anurag Kashyap and Zoya Akhtar shaping its tone. The upcoming edition adds fresh faces to an ensemble already boasting the likes of Radhika Apte, Vijay Varma, Konkona Sen Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee. Thampi’s inclusion signals a growing trend of fashion icons making the jump to acting, and the buzz around her debut has already lit up social media.

While the exact nature of Thampi’s role remains a mystery, the very fact that she was approached by the anthology’s creators says a lot about her screen presence. If her modeling work has ever taught her anything, it’s how to command attention without saying a word – a skill that will surely serve her well under Rao’s direction. Fans of both fashion and film are now waiting with bated breath for the Netflix release on September 18.