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.