Family planning authorities said film director Zhang Yimou, who recently made headlines for violating the nation's law that limits most urban couples to one child, is not above the law and will be punished.

"Every citizen is equal before the law and nobody is allowed to have privileges to give birth to more children than allowed," said Yao Hongwen, spokesman for the National Health and Family Planning Commission, on Tuesday at a news conference.

In recent weeks, media stories have claimed that Zhang is the father of seven children: one with his ex-wife; three with his current wife, Chen Ting; and another three with two mistresses.

"The commission's attitude toward citizens' birth violations is consistent and clear. ... Every Chinese citizen should abide by and safeguard laws and regulations," Yao said.

China's family planning policy, introduced in the late 1970s to rein in the country's booming population, limits most urban couples to one child and most rural couples to two. The policy was recently relaxed, allowing couples to have two children if one of them is an only child.

Those who violate the policy face hefty fines, which is generally several times a couple's combined annual income. Media reports have said Zhang may face as much as 160 million yuan ($26 million) in penalties.

Zhang's violations have sparked online criticism about celebrities who have more children than the policy allows.

In an open letter on Dec 1, Zhang admitted he and his wife have two sons and a daughter and are willing to accept an investigation and punishment into the matter. He also apologized to the public.

But his letter denied that he had extramarital affairs and fathered as many as seven children with numerous women.

On Dec 2, a family planning bureau in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, where the residential permit of Zhang's wife is registered, said it welcomed the couple's cooperation in the investigation.

The bureau also said it hopes Zhang and his wife will report their exact income to determine how much they should be fined. According to China Central Television, the couple has yet to report their income.

Guo Chengxi, one of two lawyers who have sued Zhang for 1 billion yuan in compensation for his family planning policy violations, told China Daily the court hasn't yet informed her whether it will accept the lawsuit.

Guo said if she wins her case, the lawsuit settlement will go to a fund for public use, such as helping parents with an only child.

"I want the public to realize that every one of us has interests in family planning," she said.

Wang Qingyun contributed to this story.