Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has drawn the ire of an NGO for his recent statement that his son should produce a male child. Savera, a society for civil awareness, has slammed Bachchan and said such remarks would only encourage gender discrimination and female foeticide.

Terming the statement as "unfortunate", Avnish Ohri, president of Savera, said this would only enhance the problem of the already skewed sex ratio in the country.

"Such a statement will further encourage gender discrimination and female foeticide," Ohri, said.

"This was never expected from Amitabh Bachchan and that too at a time when the government and the NGOs have waged a war against the social evil of female foeticide," he went on to say.

During a recent visit to Varanasi, Bachchan had said that he wanted his son Abhishek to marry soon and produce a male heir.

"If Bachchan had given this statement unwittingly, then he should immediately withdraw it. If the statement had been made intentionally, then it will act against him for promoting the birth of male children," Ohri further said.