Sonam Kapoor said she was actually nervous working with Salman Khan.

She stars opposite the Salman, who turns fifty next month, in this year’s big diwali release, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.

Director Sooraj R. Barjatya pens the story and screenplay of the film also featuring Neil Nitin Mukesh and Anupam Kher. The musical score is by popular songwriter and vocalist Himesh Reshammiya together with Sanjoy Chowdhury.

Sonam said: “It’s not easy working with someone who you’ve been a huge fan of. Also it’s not easy because before Salman, I had never worked with a big star like him before. It’s usually been contemporaries. I was nervous but he really made me feel comfortable.

“The best thing about him professionally is that he is the most hardworking actor that I worked with, he pushes himself and he is extremely talented.

“He’s also very modest. Also, professionally it’s easier to work with someone who doesn’t judge you in anyway. I remember when I was messing up he’d come and tell me really nicely, he has a lot of patience.

“That is true, when you need to get some good work out of a bad actor you need to be patient.”

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo tells the story of Prem "Dilwala", a happy-go-lucky man who does ‘Ramleelas’ (stage plays based on Lord Rama) in Ayodhya, India.

Salman said: “What I see in the character of Prem is what every guy should be like with a girl, which is very difficult as you need to have a lot of patience to be “Prem” in real life.

“Prem is so endearing that every girl would want to marry someone like Prem.

“He’s somebody like... he’s actually Sooraj Barjatya (the directer). Trust me, Prem is Sooraj. In fact Sooraj likes to see that side in me but the problem is that I only don’t see that side in me in my real life.”

Sonam added she was very much hoping audiences would find this story endearing, ,.

“After I did Mausam, I gave my heart and soul to that and after it didn’t do very well, I didn’t sign a movie for a year and a half.”

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is out now.