The reception of The Kashmir Files has been deeply divided along ideological lines:

Beyond the box office, the film's impact is evident in the way it has shifted the discourse on Kashmir in India. It led to the re-release of the film on January 19, 2023, to mark the anniversary of the 1990 exodus. For many Kashmiri Pandits, the film served as a form of , while for others, it raised concerns about heightening communal tensions and social divisions.

Krishna’s quest for truth amidst a university environment depicted as sympathetic to separatist ideologies.

Through characters like Pushkar Nath Pandit, the film emphasizes the deep emotional connection to one's homeland and the trauma of being rendered a refugee in one's own country.

The 2022 film The Kashmir Files , directed by Vivek Agnihotri, has emerged as one of the most polarizing and discussed pieces of modern Indian cinema. While it achieved massive commercial success, becoming the third highest-grossing Hindi film of 2022, it simultaneously sparked intense national debates regarding historical accuracy, political messaging, and its societal impact.