Zhang Yimou, the man behind the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, is suing the publisher and author of a juicy biography that he said damages his reputation, according to Chinese media.

The famed Chinese film director also wants a public apology for the book, which includes details about an alleged dispute with his wife over his reported feelings for actress Gong Li, the Beijing Morning Post said.

The book -- "Documenting China - Zhang Yimou's biography" -- has already been taken off shop shelves after Zhang's lawyer issued a statement in December condemning it, according to the report.

"A large part of the content in the book is a series of rumours, reckless fabrications, and seriously violates Zhang Yimou's name, image and privacy rights," the statement said, according to the newspaper.

Zhang's lawyer Tong Jie told the Beijing Morning Post that the director had decided to sue the publisher, Huaxia, and author Huang Xiaoyang to resolve the issue.

Zhang was asking them to stop their violations and to make a public apology, the newspaper quoted Tong as saying.

A woman at Huaxia's chief editor's office, who would not be named, confirmed the book had been taken off shelves but would not comment further.

Tong declined to comment when contacted by phone on Tuesday.

The book, which was published in August, gives details about an alleged incident with Zhang's wife, who reportedly found a romantic note from Gong in her husband's trouser pocket, according to the paper.

Zhang directed Gong in a number of films, from "Red Sorghum", a 1987 film about a woman's life working on a distillery for sorghum liquor, to the more recent "Curse of the Golden Flower".

Tong said the case had been accepted by a court in Beijing last Tuesday, according to the Beijing News. The court also declined comment.

(CRI/AFP January 14, 2009)