Salman Khan's Prem Ratan Dhan Payo Comes With Great Expectations

Salman's fans queue outside a theatre in Mumbai. This image was posted on Twitter by @notorious_heart

IN MUMBAI, CINEMA HALLS WERE PACKED WITH MOVIE-GOERS HUMMING THE POPULAR TITLE SONG OF THE FILM AS THEY WAITED TO CATCH THE 'FIRST DAY FIRST SHOW.' AN EXCITED FAN TOLD NDTV, "A SALMAN DOUBLE ROLE IS A DOUBLE TREAT FOR US." A BOX OFFICE INDIA REPORT CLAIMS THAT PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO IS HEADING TOWARDS 'CREATING HISTORY' BY RECORDING THE HIGHEST EVER OPENING DAY

The Diwali fireworks will continue at this week's box office, courtesy Salman Khan's new film Prem Ratan Dhan Payo which opened today and his fans couldn't be more excited. (Also Read: Movie Review)

In Mumbai, cinema halls were packed with movie-goers humming the popular title song of the film as they waited to catch the 'first day first show.'

An excited fan told NDTV, "A Salman double role is a double treat for us. We are very excited. All the best, Sallu." Another said, "We think it's going to be a very good movie with all the colour and jewellery. It's supposed to be a good family drama, that's why we want to see the film." Salman plays Prem and Vijay, one of them a prince, whose worlds and worldviews coincide with dramatic consequences.

Salman is expected to attend a special screening organised by a non-government organisation for children suffering from cancer. A young cancer patient told NDTV, "I am very excited about meeting Salman. I watch all his films."

Online, Twitter is flooded with wishes for Salman and claims of '100% occupancy' in theatres. The hashtag #PRDPDay has been trending on the microblogging site all morning.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, which co-stars Sonam Kapoor in the female lead, is opening in over 5300 screens today, TRADE analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted:

#PremRatanDhanPayo screen count... India: 4500+ screens... Overseas: 800 screens... Worldwide: 5300+ screens. WOW!

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) November 11, 2015

There are great expectations of the film. A Box Office India report claims that Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is heading towards 'creating history' by recording the highest ever opening day and beating the opening day record of Happy New Year. As per the report, 10% of the tickets have already been booked in advance which 'is very good' for a social family drama.

Much of the excitement is caused by the fact that Prem Ratan Dhan Payo reunites Salman with Sooraj Barjatya, the director responsible for his Prem persona in films such as Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Bollywood's ruling Khan triumvirate usually hogs the major festivals on the filmy calendar. This year, Diwali - usually reserved for a Shah Rukh Khan film - has been given over to Salman, 49, who also starred in the blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan during Eid in July. If he delivers the good with Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, it will be his ninth blockbuster in a row.

Produced by the Barjatya-owned Rajshri Productions and distributed by Fox Star Studios, the film also features Anupam Kher, Swara Bhaskar, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Deepak Dobriyal and Armaan Kohli in key roles.

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