(XINHUA)

Zhang Yimou, a famous Chinese filmmaker and director of the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, underwent public scrutiny after it was exposed that he had been hired by Beijing Xinshike Film and Culture Development Company to direct a promotional video for the Ministry of Railways.

The video, which cost 18.5 million yuan ($2.9 million) to make, has triggered a corruption investigation into a married couple who are both ministry officials.

In an interview with a news website of Xinhua News Agency, Zhang said he was paid to give advice on artistic style for the video and accepted 2.5 million yuan ($397,000) in after-tax income as payment. Although the video credited Zhang as director, he said his name should not have been listed as such in accordance with the contract. Zhang said he later learned of the video's cost and corruption allegations through online reports. In the future, he said he will do more research to gain a clearer idea of his involvement with projects. Zhang vowed to cooperate with authorities in disposing of his earnings.

Zhang, 62, is one of China's most successful film directors, directing such movies as Red Sorghum (1987), Curse of the Golden Flower (2008), and The Flowers of War (2011). Movie stars Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi have become famous for acting in his movies.