Vivek Agnihotri's low-budget directorial venture The Kashmir Files, has smashed box office records in its first week to shoot past top Bollywood hits such as Gangubai Kathiawadi.

On Day 6, The Kashmir Files is reported to have raked in Rs 19.05 crore reportedly takibg its total box office collection past the Rs 79 crore mark and counting, according to trade figures.

In comparison, one of the biggest recent Bollywood A-list releases, Gangubai Kathiawadi, took Rs 57 crore in its first five days of sales last month.

Since opening on Friday the Kashmir Files has gone from being shown on 400 screens nationwide to more than 3,000 screens now.

Big releases like Prabhas' Radhe Shyam and Alia Bhatt's Gangubai Kathiawadi haven't affected it at all as huge crowds have flocked to theatres screening The Kashmir Files.

The Kashmir Files, which released on March 11, is based on the exodus of thousands of Hindus from Kashmir in 1989-90 due to the violence and killings carried out in the valley by Pakistan-backed terrorists. The film stars Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumaar, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi.

The film has also got embroiled in a political debate. Supporters of the movie, set during both the violent upheaval of 1989-90 and the present day, say it highlights an ignored chapter of Kashmir’s history. However, critics say it fans anti-Muslim sentiment.

Also read: Kashmir Files: A grim reminder of role of Pak ISI in ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits