Chris Hemsworth calls off India trip owing to coronavirus scare

Actor Chris Hemsworth has reportedly backed out of his two-day visit to India in view of growing incidents of the coronavirus pandemic. The Thor (2011) actor was due to visit India to begin promotions for his upcoming Netflix Original film, Extractions, which has been shot in India.

The film, written by Joe and Anthony Russo and directed by Sam Hargrave, features Hemsworth as a black ops mercenary on a deadly mission to rescue the abducted son of a crime boss.

The film was shot at several locations across India and also features Randeep Hooda in a supporting role. In a statement to the Press Trust of India news agency, a Netflix source said, "Keeping in mind the health and safety of everyone involved and the travel advisory issued, the event has been called off."

The actor was scheduled to arrive in India on 16 March for a two-day press tour.

There have been more than 50 cases of coronavirus infection detected in India, with the Union health ministry circulating an advisory urging people to avoid gatherings and public meetings.

The viral pandemic has spread across the globe, resulting in more than 3,000 mortalities, with countries like Italy, Iran, and China nominally locked down.