Known worldwide Chinese film director faces a fine of $ 26 million for large families

Chinese authorities suspected the director Zhang Yimou is that he is the father of seven children, while in the country there are strict limits on the number of children in the family. This is with reference to local media reports Reuters.

With respect to the director started checking. In the event that multiple births Zhang Yimou is proved, he faces a penalty that based on his income could be around 160 million yuan (26 million dollars).

According to the newspaper Shanghai Daily, seven children in Zhang Yimou from four different women. Two sons and a daughter from his birth to the actress Chen Ting, at which the director had married in 2011. Another child from his previous wife Xiao Hua, and the rest were born as a result of extramarital affairs.

Zhang Yimou's three children and his wife allegedly living in his mansion, which cost the director of 10 million yuan (1.6 million dollars).

Zhang Yimou is one of the most famous film directors and producers in China. It became popular, including in the West, thanks to films such as "House of Flying Daggers", "The Way Home", "Hero" and others. He received numerous awards Berlin and Venice film festivals, in addition, three of his films were nominated for "Oscar" in the category "Best Foreign Film".

One-child policy was introduced in China in the late 1970s to prevent the growth of the Chinese population. Now the country has a number of exceptions to this rule. They operate in the event that both parents of families with one child, or if their first-born was born with no heritable genetic serious illness. In addition, in several provinces of the second child is allowed to start if the first - a girl. Despite these exceptions, the prohibition to have more than one child applies to 63 percent of the population.