'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' mints a Rs.40.35 crore on opening day

This festive season has turned out to be crackling for Salman Khan! The superstar's latest release "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo", which released a day after Diwali, managed to mint over Rs.40 crore with its Hindi version on its first day in India. Its performance has been "outstanding" and "phenomenal", say trade experts.

The family drama, which reunites Salman with his "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!" and "Hum Saath-Saath Hai" director Sooraj Barjatya after 16 years, has majorly appealed to family audiences, who have contributed to its Rs.40.35 crore box office opening figure, said the film's spokesperson.

The figures of the film's Tamil and Telugu version are yet to be compiled. However, chances are that this will turn out to be a big commercial success. Also starring Sonam Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Swara Bhaskar, Armaan Kohli and Neil Nitin Mukesh, the movie is replete with elaborate song and dance sequences, palatial sets, grand clothes and the grandeur one can expect from a movie around royalty.

After the record-breaking "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", Salman may once again create history with "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo".

"From North to South, and from East to West, it's the same story: opening of SoorajBarjatya and SalmaKhan's PREM RATAN DHAN PAYO is phenomenal," trade analyst Komal Nahta posted on Twitter on Friday.

Trade expert Taran Adarsh also validated the facts and figures garnered by the film, and wrote: "#PremRatanDhanPayo has a MIND-BOGGLING start. Salman + Sooraj Barjatya + Diwali results in MAGICAL figures at the box office... OUTSTANDING START."

Clearly then, Rajshri Productions has nothing to worry about.

Made on a budget of Rs.60 crore with Rs.20 crore spent on publicity and advertising -- Barjatya's costliest ever film -- "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo" has already recovered a sum of Rs.57 crore from satellite and music rights. Having released in 4,500 screens in India and in 1,100 screens in traditional international markets, the movie is well on its way to be a success.