Honestly, if you were scrolling through theaters in the summer of 2017, you probably missed it. Guest iin London (2017) didn't exactly shatter the box office. It didn't win a National Award. But seven years later, it’s one of those movies that keeps popping up on streaming services like ZEE5, finding a second life among people who just want a laugh without thinking too hard. It’s a weird one.
The film serves as a spiritual successor to the 2010 hit Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?, but instead of a middle-class Mumbai flat, we’re in the suburbs of London. You’ve got Kartik Aaryan—back when he was still the "monologue guy" and not yet the superstar of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2—playing Aryan. He’s living with his partner Anaya (played by Kriti Kharbanda). They’re in a fake marriage of convenience, trying to secure permanent residency. Everything is going according to their slightly illegal plan until the doorbell rings. Enter Paresh Rawal.
Rawal plays Uncle Gangasharan Tripathi, accompanied by his wife Guddi (Tanvi Azmi). They are the "guests" from hell. Or are they? That’s basically the tension the movie tries to navigate for two hours.
The Weird Legacy of Guest iin London 2017
Most critics absolutely hated this movie when it dropped on July 7, 2017. If you look at the reviews from that time, people were brutal. Rajeev Masand and other top-tier critics felt the humor was dated. They weren't entirely wrong. The film relies heavily on "fart jokes." Like, a lot of them. Director Ashwni Dhir clearly has a specific brand of situational comedy that leans into the grotesque and the loud.
But here is the thing: audiences often disagree with critics.
There’s a specific demographic in India and the diaspora that loves this kind of "uninvited guest" trope. It’s relatable. Everyone has that one uncle who shows up, overstays his welcome, judges your lifestyle, and yet, somehow, makes the house feel like a home. Guest iin London (2017) taps into that cultural DNA of Atithi Devo Bhava (the guest is God) being pushed to its absolute breaking point.
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The film wasn't just about slapstick, though. It tried to do something deeper toward the end, focusing on the loneliness of the elderly and the disconnect between NRIs and their roots. Does it succeed? Sorta. It gets a bit melodramatic, which is a classic Bollywood pitfall. One minute you’re laughing at Paresh Rawal’s digestive issues, and the next, you’re supposed to be crying because of a heartfelt speech about family values. It’s a tonal rollercoaster.
Why the Cast Actually Worked (Even When the Script Didn't)
Paresh Rawal is a legend for a reason. Even with mediocre material, he delivers. His portrayal of the bumbling yet wise-cracking uncle is the only reason the movie holds together. He has this way of being incredibly annoying and deeply endearing in the same breath.
Then you have Kartik Aaryan. In 2017, he was still finding his footing. You can see flashes of the charm that would later make him a massive star, but here, he’s mostly playing the "straight man" to Rawal’s chaos. It’s a thankless job. He spends most of the movie looking frustrated, which, to be fair, is exactly how anyone would feel if their fake marriage was being scrutinized by a distant relative who refuses to leave.
Kriti Kharbanda does what she can with a somewhat thin role. The chemistry between the leads is fine, but the real "romance" or central relationship of the movie is actually between the young couple and the old couple. It’s a clash of generations. London provides a glossy backdrop, but the heart of the story is strictly small-town India.
Production Hiccups and the Release Delay
The road to the screen wasn't smooth. Originally, the film was supposed to come out earlier in June, but it got pushed back to July. There was also some legal back-and-forth regarding whether it was an official sequel to Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?. The producers eventually framed it as a completely different story within the same universe to avoid copyright headaches with the previous film's rights holders.
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It was filmed extensively in London, and you can tell. The cinematography captures that specific grey-but-pretty London vibe. It cost around 15-20 crores to make, which is a modest budget. It didn't lose a ton of money, but it certainly didn't set the world on fire.
Addressing the "Problematic" Humor
We have to talk about the jokes. In 2026, some of the humor in Guest iin London (2017) feels even more dated than it did in 2017. There are jokes about racism, cultural stereotypes, and gender roles that might make a modern audience cringe.
For example, the way the film handles the "fake marriage" and the Pakistani neighbors (played by Sanjay Mishra and others) is played strictly for laughs. It’s a very specific "2010s Bollywood" style of writing where subtlety is thrown out the window in favor of broad, loud punchlines. If you’re looking for a sophisticated satire on immigration, this is not it. This is a movie where a man’s flatulence is a major plot point.
However, there’s an honesty to it. It doesn't pretend to be high art. It’s "masala" comedy in its purest, most unfiltered form.
How to Watch It Today
If you’re curious about Guest iin London (2017) now, it’s actually quite easy to find.
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- Streaming: It’s primarily available on ZEE5.
- YouTube: Occasionally, parts of it or the full movie (via licensed channels) pop up.
- Music: The soundtrack, featuring songs like "Frankly Tu Sona Nachdi," actually did pretty well. It’s still a decent party track. Raghav Sachar and Amit Mishra handled the music, and it’s arguably one of the better parts of the production.
The movie is a time capsule. It represents a transition period for Kartik Aaryan and a continuation of Paresh Rawal’s reign as the king of character comedy.
What We Can Learn From the Film's Failure and Survival
Why does a movie with a 10% or 20% rating on some review sites still get millions of views on streaming?
It’s the "comfort watch" factor. Sometimes, people don't want to watch a three-hour epic or a gritty crime thriller. They want something familiar. The trope of the annoying guest is universal. Whether it’s What About Bob? or Guest iin London, we love watching someone else's life get dismantled by a well-meaning intruder.
It also highlights the "gap" in Indian cinema. There aren't many clean, family comedies being made anymore. Most comedies have moved to OTT and become "dark" or "edgy." Guest iin London (2017) belongs to that era of family-friendly (mostly) comedies that you could watch with your parents without too much awkwardness—minus the gas jokes.
Actionable Insights for Cinephiles
If you're going to dive into this movie, here is how to actually enjoy it:
- Lower your expectations for plot. The "plot" is basically a series of sketches. Don't look for deep character arcs or logical consistency in the immigration laws depicted.
- Watch it for Paresh Rawal. Forget the rest. Just watch his timing. His ability to deliver a line with a straight face while everything around him is falling apart is a masterclass in comic acting.
- Compare it to the original. If you haven't seen Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?, watch that first. It’s a much tighter, better-written film. It helps you see what Guest iin London was trying (and often failing) to replicate.
- Check out the cameos. Keep an eye out for Ajay Devgn. His appearance links the two films and adds a bit of "superstar" weight to the proceedings.
In the end, Guest iin London (2017) isn't a masterpiece. It's not even "good" by traditional standards. But it’s a fascinating look at Bollywood’s attempt to take a local concept and transplant it into a global setting. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s occasionally heartwarming.
Whether you love it or hate it, the film remains a significant footnote in Kartik Aaryan's journey to the top. It was a stepping stone. A loud, flatulent, London-based stepping stone. If you have two hours to kill and want to see Paresh Rawal annoy the hell out of a young Kartik Aaryan, you could do worse. Just don't say I didn't warn you about the fart jokes.