Amid growing controversy around Shah Rukh Khan's new-born surrogate baby, AbRam, the actor has come out with a written statement confirming the premature birth of the baby and clarifying that no pre-natal sex determination test was carried out to ascertain the child's gender.
There were claims as reported in sections of the media about an alleged sex determination test.
Khan attributed the family's silence on the matter to the "personal nature of emotional strife" that the family has been going through due to the new-born's ill health, who, according to the statement, was born "prematurely by several months."
This is the actor's first public statement on the matter after a long spell of silence. Shah Rukh and his wife Gauri already have two children together — son Aryan (16) and daughter Suhana (13).
"Just to put the record straight there was no sex determination for our child. The baby was born much before the speculations of 'sex determination' and other 'issues' pertaining to the same were being raised in the media by some organisations," the actor said in the statement.
He also appealed for privacy for his family, saying, "Our son is a surrogate baby and the entire process is bound by strict confidentiality. We would appeal to all, to allow us to cherish this private moment as a family. It seems unfortunate that I have to explain/clarify so many aspects for our new-born baby. Wish it were just a simple message of happiness on behalf of the family."
The actor also thanked Dr Jatin Shah for his expertise and contribution and also that of other medical staff involved.
He also apologised to hospitals and doctors who "had to face unwanted scrutiny and questioning by some parties."
Making it amply clear that he doesn't want to drag the issue further, the statement concludes with: "They say a baby is God's opinion that the world should go on. Post this statement, I hope we all move on too."