Salman Khan and Sooraj Barjatya’s muchawaited Diwali release, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, has not only broken the first day collection record of Happy New Year, which was last year’s Diwali release, but has also emerged as the highest single day grosser of all time.

Story: Prem Dilwale, Ayodhya’s Ram Leela artist, admires Princess Maithili (Sonam) and her charitable work. Prem decides to meet Maithili at the coronation of her fiance Prince Vijay (Salman) in Pritampur. But Vijay’s fallen prey to a conspiracy by his wicked brother Ajay (Neil) and relative Chirag (Armaan). As Vijay suffers their violent assault, Pritampur’s Diwan (Anupam) asks Prem to play Vijay’s part and protect Maithili.

This film is Salman Khan’s triumph. He simply blows the top off the theatres with a double role that makes you laugh, gasp, sigh and cry. Salman performs with superb finesse. His Vijay is tense, terse and taut, radiating machismo but no gentleness, loneliness with kingsized ego. His Prem is luminous with life. The acting is ace this year is Salman’s finest yet in cinematic grace.

Sonam carries off her princess beautifully with a free, passionate soul. Deepak Dobriyal delights as Prem’s sidekick Kanhaiya, Armaan works a violent swagger well while Neil sulks as a sour prince whose gimlet has way too much lime. Playing bitter sisters, Swara and Aashika have one of the film’s sweetest moments with a brother who stops being a royal pain.