Cash and controversy brought by "PK", directed by Rajkumar Hirani, have ensured that Aamir Khan ended the year 2014 on a high note.

Made on a budget of Rs 100 crore, the film - released in 4,000 screens on December 19 - fetched the highest box office revenue of the year, collecting Rs 236.24 crore, surpassing Salman Khan-starrer "Kick" which had a box office collection of Rs 233 crore in India.

As producers and exhibitors

count the cash return from the film, "PK" is also facing a fair share of countrywide controversy following street protests and violence by right wing Hindu groups which allege the movie hurt the religious sentiments.

Some theatres in northeastern states of Assam and Odissa were vandalised on Monday, after protests in other states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Protesters burned posters of the movie - which takes a swipe at organised religion and godmen -and burnt effigies of Aamir Khan.

They also demanded a ban on the film throughout the country.

Rajkumar Hirani said in a statement that he had no intention to hurt anyone's sentiments and maintained that the film upholds the true spirit of religion while condemning "only the abuse" of it. "Our film is inspired by the ideas of Sant Kabir and Mahatma Gandhi. It is a film which brings to fore the thought that all humans who inhabit this planet are the same. There are no differences," he said.

Censor Board Chief Leela Samson defended the decision to give a go-ahead to "PK" and said “political and ideological groups" may advise their followers not to watch it.

India's Information and Broadcasting Ministry said it cannot act on a film once it has been cleared by the Censor Board. Speaking to reporters here, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore however added that state governments could act depending on the law and order situation. Citizens are also free to approach courts in case they have grievances, he said.