SINGAPORE — Local content creator Kiki Darling has resigned from director Jack Neo’s upcoming film Ah Boys to Firefighters after his past conviction for sexual assault surfaced publicly.
The development was confirmed by J Team Productions, which said it was unaware of the actor’s previous conviction when he was cast in one of the film’s four main roles.
Kiki, whose real name was identified in reports as Hari Kishen Balakrishnan, had been set to play full-time national serviceman Ramesh Menon in the upcoming Singapore film.
The controversy emerged after local content creator S Subhraaj posted a video on Sept. 7, 2026, identifying Kiki and referring to his past criminal case.
According to AsiaOne, Hari had undergone reformative training after being convicted in connection with the sexual assault of a male friend in November 2020.
Past Conviction Resurfaces
The case was previously reported by Singapore media in 2021.
According to the account cited by AsiaOne, Hari and the victim, then 23, had spent time with friends before continuing to drink alcohol after the others left.
The victim later became incapacitated after drinking and was sexually assaulted, according to court reporting cited by AsiaOne.
Hari was arrested after the victim made a police report. Investigators also recovered video evidence from Hari’s mobile phone, AsiaOne reported.
Hari, who was underage at the time of sentencing, was ordered to undergo six months of reformative training.
The case has now resurfaced years later following his casting in a major Singapore film.
Production Company Says It Was ‘Very Surprised’
J Team Productions said it was caught off guard by the revelation.
The production company told AsiaOne that none of the crew members had been aware of Kiki’s previous conviction.
According to the company, cast members had not declared any prior convictions.
After discussions with Kiki, the actor decided to resign from the film.
J Team Productions said the decision was made amid concerns about the potential reputational risks of continuing with him in such a prominent role.
Film Now Faces Recasting and Reshoots
The production company is now working to recast the role of Ramesh Menon.
It is also planning reshoots and necessary edits to the film following Kiki’s departure.
Despite the unexpected setback, J Team Productions said the changes were not expected to significantly affect the movie’s theatrical release plans.
Ah Boys to Firefighters is currently scheduled for release during the Chinese New Year period in 2027.
Kiki Removes Posts About Film Role
By Sept. 9, AsiaOne reported that Kiki had removed several posts from his Instagram account, including posts celebrating his casting in the film.
As of the publication of the AsiaOne report, Kiki had not publicly commented on the matter or responded to requests for comment.
The case has sparked renewed discussion about background checks, disclosure requirements and the potential reputational risks faced by production companies when casting performers.
A Major Setback for the Upcoming Film
The controversy presents an unexpected challenge for Ah Boys to Firefighters, a new project from Jack Neo’s production team.
With one of its main actors now out, the production must replace the role and redo scenes that have already been filmed.
However, J Team Productions has indicated that it intends to move forward with the project.
For now, the film’s release plans remain unchanged.
But Kiki Darling’s sudden exit has become the latest controversy surrounding a production that was expected to bring another installment of Jack Neo’s popular military-themed film franchise to audiences.
The actor’s resignation also underscores the importance of separating a person’s current professional work from the legal record that may later come to public attention.
J Team Productions said it was unaware of the past conviction before the controversy surfaced, while Kiki has since stepped away from the project and the role is now being recast.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
Leave a Reply