International
Sex games kill Hollywood actor
MUMBAI: Star of the 1970s TV series Kung Fu and the Kill Bill movies, David Carradine was found dead in a Bangkok hotel yesterday in what Thai police initially said was a suicide, but now suspect to be a tragic accident.
Police said 72-year-old Carradine was found with lengths of cord wrapped around his neck and other parts of his body, including his penis. The revelations have given rise to speculation the actor died from erotic asphyxiation, a practice that instigates sexual arousal by depriving the brain of oxygen.
The US embassy in the Thai capital confirmed the death. Carradinem was in Thailand to shoot a film called Stretch.
“He was found in his hotel room in Bangkok but the cause of death has not yet been established,” an embassy official said. Carradine‘s manager Chuck Binder described the death as “accidental”.
Police said Carradine‘s body was found around 11:30am local time on 4th June, hanging by his neck in the closet of his hotel room. An initial report suggested he had been in rigor mortis(“dead”) for at least 12 hours. Local police officer Pirom Janthapirom said security cameras showed footage of no-one else going in or out of Carradine‘s hotel room.
The death came just three days before the end of filming for the movie.
Carradine was the son of prominent actor John Carradine and part of an acting family that includes brothers Keith Carradine and Robert Carradine. Born on December 8, 1936, during Hollywood‘s Golden Age of cinema, he first entered showbusiness via musical theatre on New York‘s Broadway.
While best known for his role as the fugitive half-Chinese Shaolin monk Kwai Chang Caine in the 1970s TV drama Kung Fu, Carradine had a long a varied career in film. He appeared in Martin Scorsese‘s Boxcar Bertha in 1972, and played legendary folk singer
Woody Guthrie in the 1976 film Bound for Glory, that garnered him a Golden Globe nomination.
International
Russia-India cinematic spectacle Persimmon of My Love set for grand Moscow debut
Hindi cinema style musical revives Indo-Soviet cinema ties for today
MUMBAI: A new chapter in cross-border storytelling is set to unfold as Persimmon of My Love gears up for its premiere in Moscow on 1 April 2026, marking the first large-scale cinematic collaboration between Russia and India in decades.
Positioned as a modern nod to the cultural exchange that once brought Indian classics to Soviet audiences, the film blends Hindi cinema flair with Russian storytelling, aiming to rekindle a long-standing cinematic friendship.
Directed by Marius Weisberg, the musical comedy follows two brothers navigating a lively world of music, family and romance. The lead roles are played by Demis Karibidis and Mikhail Galustyan, with Karibidis also contributing as a screenwriter.
Shot entirely in India, the production leans heavily into Hindi cinema style spectacle. Filming took place across Mumbai studios and the cities of Udaipur and Jodhpur, whose architecture was used to create the fictional setting of Khurmada. A crew of over 350 worked on the project, with large-scale sequences featuring up to 1,000 extras.
The film also brings Indian creative talent into the mix. Dance sequences are choreographed by Jay Kumar, while music by Zurab Matua features songs in both Hindi and Russian, adding to its cross-cultural appeal.
Backed by TNT channel, MyWayStudio and the Russian Cinema Fund, the project reflects a broader push to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.
With its mix of colour, comedy and cross-border collaboration, Persimmon of My Love is not just a film release but a reminder that cinema, much like music, travels well across borders.
