Actor Shah Rukh Khan, dubbed the ‘King of Bollywood,’ is under investigation by Indian authorities over allegations related to determining the gender of his unborn child through ultrasound.

Channel News Asia, on June 18, cited various Indian media sources reporting that the star Shah Rukh Khan and his wife, Gauri Khan, are expecting a child via surrogacy, and it is a boy. This contravenes India’s ban on gender determination through ultrasound.

The Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) has requested the Maharashtra state health authorities to investigate the matter. “We want to know the truth, and if this is true, who disclosed the gender information of the fetus. Anyone involved will be dealt with according to the law,” declared Dr. Jignesh Thakkar, an official of the IRIA.

The head of Maharashtra’s health department, Suresh Shetty, told the Hindustan Times that he has instructed the Mumbai city’s Health Department to investigate and take appropriate action if necessary. The investigation results must be reported within 3-4 days.

Shah Rukh Khan and his wife reside in a central entertainment district in Mumbai. The couple already has two children, a son and a daughter. As of now, Shah Rukh Khan has not made any comments.

India is a country deeply ingrained with the “son preference” mindset, with many opting for abortion upon discovering the fetus is female. Married women in India face immense pressure to give birth to sons, who are expected to be the family’s backbone and care for parents in old age. As a result, the world’s second-most populous country is dealing with a serious gender imbalance. In 1996, India enacted a law banning gender determination through ultrasound.

Shah Rukh Khan is one of the top stars in India, famous for romantic films and known as the ‘King of Romance,’ ‘King Khan,’ or ‘King of Bollywood.’

Earlier this year, Forbes magazine ranked Khan at the top of the list of India’s 100 richest entertainment stars, with a fortune of up to $37.7 million.