If you opened Bombay Stories expecting another glossy period drama about old Mumbai, the film is trying something very different.
Directed by Rahhat Shah Kazmi, the Hindi drama started streaming in India on September 28, 2026, with current OTT listings placing it on JioHotstar. It runs for around 2 hours and 4 minutes.
But the most interesting part of Bombay Stories is not simply its cast.
It is the film’s connection with Saadat Hasan Manto, especially his writing about people who normally remained outside polite society – sex workers, pimps, workers, struggling actors and people trying to survive in Bombay.
And there is one important correction to make immediately:
Bombay Stories is not simply an adaptation of a Manto “novel.”
The film draws from Manto’s short stories, with Hatak at the centre and reports from its Cannes launch also connecting it with stories including Khushiya and Bu.
That makes the literary connection much richer than most OTT summaries suggest.
Bombay Stories Quick Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie | Bombay Stories |
| Release Date | September 28, 2026 |
| Current India Streaming Listing | JioHotstar |
| Runtime | 124 minutes |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Drama |
| Director | Rahhat Shah Kazmi |
| Writers | Rahhat Shah Kazmi, Yash Goradia |
| Based On | Stories by Saadat Hasan Manto |
| Major Cast | Mouni Roy, Anupria Goenka, Monica Aggarwal, Gargi Duggal, Rrahul Sudhir, Sushmita Singh |
Current cast databases also list Bilal Ahamad Bhagat, Shoib Nikash Shah, Fezan Khan and Kazmi himself among the ensemble.
Bombay Stories Cast – The Bigger Names Missing From Many Lists
Your original cast list had Anupria Goenka, Monica Aggarwal and Gargi Duggal, but two important names deserve much more attention:
Mouni Roy and Rrahul Sudhir.
The full credited ensemble currently includes:
| Actor | Role / Credit Currently Verified |
|---|---|
| Anupria Goenka | Saugandhi |
| Mouni Roy | Cast member, role not consistently listed publicly |
| Rrahul Sudhir | Rahul |
| Sushmita Singh | Kamna |
| Rahhat Shah Kazmi | Khusiya |
| Bilal Ahamad Bhagat | Constable Shinde |
| Monica Aggarwal | Cast |
| Gargi Duggal | Cast |
Anupria has publicly discussed playing Saugandhi, a sex worker at the centre of the Hatak material. Rrahul Sudhir has described Rahul as a wealthy man driven by curiosity and experimentation, while Kazmi has said he plays Khusiya.
IMDb currently credits Sushmita Singh as Kamna and Bilal Ahamad Bhagat as Constable Shinde.
For roles that are not clearly identified in reliable public credits, I would not guess.
Anupria Goenka as Saugandhi – The Character That Explains the Film
If you are searching for the Bombay Stories actress name, Anupria Goenka is one of the most important names to know.
She plays Saugandhi, a character drawn from Manto’s Hatak.
Anupria described Saugandhi as a woman who wants something very basic – respect and emotional acceptance beyond how society sees her profession. .
That is important because it tells us what kind of film Bombay Stories wants to be.
It is not simply using 1930s Bombay as an attractive vintage backdrop.
The story is interested in how people judge a woman, how money changes human relationships and what happens when someone treated as an object starts demanding dignity.
That is very close to what made Manto uncomfortable reading in the first place.
What Is Hatak?
This is the section that can make your article genuinely different from basic cast pages.
Hatak roughly translates as “insult.”
In English translations of Manto’s Bombay writing, the story is often published as The Insult.
The central character is Saugandhi, a sex worker whose life changes after a humiliating encounter forces her to confront how she has allowed others to value her. Manto’s Bombay Stories collection includes The Insult alongside stories such as Khushiya, Smell, Ten Rupees, Babu Gopi Nath, Janaki, Siraj and Mammad Bhai.
That means viewers coming to the film from Manto’s writing have another layer to look for.
They are not simply watching “a story about sex workers.”
They are watching filmmakers reinterpret characters that Manto used to expose class, exploitation, loneliness, desire and social hypocrisy.
Is Bombay Stories Based on a Novel?
This is one of the easiest pieces of misinformation to repeat.
IMDb’s short synopsis currently describes the movie as being “based on Saadat Hasan Manto’s novel,” but stronger reporting around the production says it is based on his short stories, especially Hatak.
There is also a book called Bombay Stories, but it is a collection of Manto’s Bombay-set short fiction, not a single novel.
Penguin describes the volume as a collection bringing together stories from Manto’s years in Bombay, with characters including prostitutes, criminals, workers and people on the edges of city life.
So for ReadThis.in, the clean description should be:
Bombay Stories is a film inspired by Saadat Hasan Manto’s Bombay-set short fiction, including Hatak.
That is more accurate.
Mouni Roy Has a Bigger Connection Than Just Acting
Another detail many short cast pages miss – Mouni Roy is also credited as a co-producer on the project.
IMDb’s production credits list Mouni alongside co-producers including Monica Aggarwal, Gargi Duggal and Sonali Doshi.
That makes her connection to Bombay Stories more interesting than simply being another recognizable name added to an independent film.
Her role name has not been consistently published in reliable public listings, so I would avoid inventing a character simply to make the cast table look complete.
Bombay Stories at Cannes – What Actually Happened?
You will see headlines saying things like:
“Bombay Stories premiered at Cannes.”
That needs some context.
The film was showcased and screened at the Marché du Film, the film market that takes place alongside the Cannes Film Festival. Anupria Goenka, Mouni Roy and other team members travelled to Cannes to promote the project.
That is a meaningful industry showcase.
But Marché du Film is not the same thing as being selected for Cannes’ main Competition, Un Certain Regard or another official festival competition section.
That distinction matters.
It does not make the achievement unimportant – it simply describes it correctly.
The market is where filmmakers, producers, distributors and buyers from around the world meet, which can be especially valuable for an independent production looking for international sales and visibility.
What Happened at the Cannes Showcase?
The project used Cannes as more than a photo opportunity.
Anupria spoke there about Saugandhi and the social judgement surrounding sex workers, while reports said the first look of the movie was unveiled during the event.
She later said that screening the movie to an international audience let her see how viewers from different backgrounds responded to a story rooted in India but dealing with wider questions around women and sex work.
That is actually a much stronger Cannes angle than simply saying “the cast attended Cannes.”
What Is Bombay Stories About?
The film takes viewers into 1930s Bombay through interconnected lives involving sex workers and the people around them.
Current streaming listings describe it as interweaving the lives of three sex workers and their pimps, while production interviews stress the satirical and humane side of Manto’s writing.
Rather than presenting old Bombay as romantic nostalgia, the story looks toward the parts of the city many people would rather ignore.
That includes:
- survival
- sexual exploitation
- class
- judgement
- loneliness
- transactional relationships
- dignity
- the difference between how society behaves privately and what it pretends to believe publicly
That last contradiction is where Manto’s writing still feels surprisingly current.
Why Manto’s Bombay Still Works in 2026
This is probably the strongest original angle for the article.
Manto wrote about Bombay decades before Instagram, dating apps or modern OTT.
Yet a lot of his characters face questions that have not disappeared:
Who gets judged for desire?
Who gets to decide what makes a “respectable” woman?
Why is society willing to use people privately and reject them publicly?
How much of a person’s value becomes tied to money, appearance or social status?
That is one reason Manto keeps returning to cinema.
The setting is historical.
The judgement is not.
And that gives Bombay Stories something most period dramas do not automatically have – a direct conversation with modern audiences even when the characters are living almost a century earlier.
Bombay Stories Is Also an Independent Film Story
Anupria Goenka described the project as her first independent film, while the Cannes reporting consistently framed Bombay Stories as an independent production.
That matters because the casting is unusual.
You have a recognizable mainstream face like Mouni Roy, an established digital and film actor like Anupria Goenka, TV actor Rrahul Sudhir, and a wider ensemble rather than a traditional star-driven Bollywood structure.
It also helps explain why the film went through the international film-market route before reaching Indian streaming audiences.
Where to Watch Bombay Stories Online
As of September 29, 2026, current Indian OTT tracking lists Bombay Stories as streaming on JioHotstar, following its September 28 release.
The current listing shows:
Platform: JioHotstar
Release: September 28, 2026
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 2 hours 4 minutes
Streaming model: Subscription
I would not direct users toward unofficial download sites.
Availability can also change later because of licensing, so this section should be updated if the platform changes.
Quick Fact Check
Claim: Bombay Stories is based on a Manto novel.
Not exactly. It draws from Manto’s short stories, especially Hatak, with Cannes launch coverage also referencing Khusya, Bu and other stories.
Claim: Anupria Goenka is the only major actress.
No. Mouni Roy, Sushmita Singh, Monica Aggarwal and Gargi Duggal are also among the credited female cast.
Claim: Mouni Roy only acted in the film.
She is also credited as a co-producer.
Claim: Bombay Stories competed at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film was showcased/screened at Marché du Film, the Cannes Film Market. That is different from selection in the main Cannes competition.
Claim: Hatak is just a random title used by the film.
No. It is one of Manto’s major Bombay stories and is central to Anupria Goenka’s character Saugandhi.
You Should Read This
The easy way to write about Bombay Stories is:
“Mouni Roy and Anupria Goenka star in a bold period drama.”
But that leaves out what actually makes the project interesting.
Manto did not write about Bombay like a tourist looking at beautiful buildings.
He looked at people who lived behind those buildings.
Sex workers, pimps, struggling artists, workers and people surviving in a city that could offer freedom and cruelty at the same time.
Nearly a century later, Bombay Stories is bringing those characters into the streaming era.
That creates a strange contrast.
We are watching stories written about 1930s Bombay on a 2026 streaming app, yet many of the arguments around dignity, women, desire and judgement still feel familiar.
Read Also: OTT Releases Sept 28-Oct 4: What Is Already Streaming and What Comes Next
That is the reason to watch the film beyond its cast.
FAQs
When did Bombay Stories release?
Bombay Stories began streaming in India on September 28, 2026, according to current OTT listings.
Where can I watch Bombay Stories?
It is currently listed on JioHotstar in India.
Who are the actresses in Bombay Stories?
The credited female cast includes Mouni Roy, Anupria Goenka, Monica Aggarwal, Gargi Duggal and Sushmita Singh, among others.
Who does Anupria Goenka play?
She plays Saugandhi, the central woman from Manto’s Hatak.
Is Mouni Roy in Bombay Stories?
Yes. Mouni Roy is part of the cast and is also credited as a co-producer.
Who does Rrahul Sudhir play?
He plays Rahul, described as a wealthy man whose curiosity leads him toward new experiences and sides of his personality.
Is Bombay Stories based on a true story?
No. It is inspired by Saadat Hasan Manto’s fictional short stories, although Manto’s Bombay writing was deeply informed by the city and people he observed during his years there.
Was Bombay Stories officially selected for Cannes Competition?
The film was showcased at Marché du Film, the Cannes Film Market. That should not be confused with competing in Cannes’ main festival sections.
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