Singaporean content creator and actor Simonboy is turning his painful past into a powerful message of hope, revealing how the hardest part of recovering from drug addiction is not when others give up on you, but when you begin to lose faith in yourself.
The 38-year-old, whose real name is Simon Khung, shared his personal reflections while promoting Pace, a new Singapore film starring Mediacorp actor Desmond Tan and content creator Zaki Hussain. The drama explores addiction, family conflict, social stigma and the difficult journey of rebuilding a life after prison and rehabilitation.
Released in Singapore cinemas on October 8, 2026, the film arrives with a message that closely reflects Simonboy’s own experiences: people who have made serious mistakes can still find a way forward, but recovery requires perseverance, support and the willingness to give themselves another chance.
In an interview with AsiaOne, Simonboy said the darkest point in addiction comes when a person believes there is no longer any possibility of redemption.
He explained that people struggling with substance abuse can become someone they themselves no longer recognise, adding that the first step towards change begins when they decide not to give up on themselves.
Simonboy’s Real-Life Struggle With Addiction
Simonboy’s involvement in Pace carries particular significance because his own life has been shaped by addiction, imprisonment and recovery.
He first experimented with drugs at the age of 16. In 2015, he was jailed after assaulting someone while under the influence of drugs, and he subsequently served prison sentences on two other occasions.
In 2019, he voluntarily entered a halfway house to begin addressing his addiction. After working through his recovery, he started rebuilding his life in 2021.
His transformation eventually led him towards a new career as a content creator and actor, allowing him to share his experiences with audiences who may be facing similar struggles.
Simonboy has also become involved in efforts to raise awareness about addiction and rehabilitation. In 2024, he was named the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association’s first ambassador, recognising his role in encouraging conversations about substance abuse and recovery.
For him, the story behind Pace is more than another acting opportunity. It is a chance to communicate the realities of addiction and remind people with similar backgrounds that their past does not necessarily determine their future.
Desmond Tan Transforms Himself to Play a Recovering Drug Addict
The film stars Desmond Tan, 40, as Malcolm, a former drug offender who is trying to rebuild his life after rehabilitation.
Malcolm returns to a world where family relationships remain fractured, employment is difficult and his past continues to shape how others see him. Searching for a renewed sense of purpose, he finds direction through his late younger brother’s passion for running.
Tan underwent a dramatic physical transformation to portray the character at different stages of his journey.
According to reports by The Straits Times and CNA Lifestyle, the actor gained 15kg to portray Malcolm after rehabilitation before losing weight again to depict a later stage of the character’s transformation.
The demanding process took place over approximately three months, with Tan using changes in his appearance to help convey the character’s physical and emotional struggles.
However, Tan explained to AsiaOne that the physical transformation was only a small part of the challenge. Understanding the mindset of someone recovering from addiction was far more important.
He researched the subject, watched interviews with former drug users and spoke with Simonboy to gain a deeper understanding of the guilt, regret and difficulties that can accompany recovery.
Through these conversations, Tan came to appreciate how some former offenders spend years attempting to repair relationships and seek forgiveness for decisions made during their addiction.
The actor said he wanted to use Malcolm’s story to give a voice to people whose experiences are often misunderstood or overlooked.
How Running Becomes a Symbol of Redemption
In Pace, Malcolm discovers a new direction through running, following the passion of his late younger brother.
The sport becomes a way for him to confront his past, develop discipline and gradually rebuild his confidence. It also gives him an opportunity to form new relationships beyond the environment associated with his former life.
Zaki Hussain plays Coach Firdaus, a secondary school cross-country coach who takes Malcolm under his wing and trains him alongside his students.
For Zaki, the film marks his feature-film debut. Although he was already familiar with acting through social media content, he acknowledged that working on a full-length film was a different experience.
He sought advice from the student runners featured in the production, learning about their coach’s behaviour and the correct techniques for running.
The students themselves were real cross-country runners with no previous acting experience, creating an unusual shared learning experience for the cast.
Zaki said he felt fortunate to work with an experienced team and hoped his performance would do justice to the running community.
The film also stars veteran actor Zhu Houren, his son Joel Choo and Taiwanese actress Elaine Jin. Jonathan Choo, Zhu’s older son, wrote and directed the production.
Why Simonboy Says the Film Is More Than Entertainment
Simonboy said he felt honoured when director Jonathan Choo and executive producer Lim Teck introduced him to the project.
He viewed the film as an opportunity to tell stories that could encourage people who have experienced addiction, incarceration or social rejection.
Rather than treating the production as just another acting job, he believed its message could remind viewers that recovery is possible, even after years of destructive decisions.
One scene particularly affected him when he watched an early version of the film. He recalled being struck by the despair and uncertainty in Tan’s portrayal of Malcolm, recognising emotions that people struggling to change their lives may experience.
He also highlighted the fear surrounding a possible relapse — the painful awareness that returning to old habits could undo years of effort and bring renewed suffering to the person and their loved ones.
For Simonboy, that uncertainty is an important part of the recovery journey that audiences need to understand.
People may genuinely want to change but struggle to identify where to begin, especially when they lack guidance, stable employment or supportive relationships.
The Hidden Challenges of Starting Over After Prison
Beyond addiction itself, Pace explores the difficulties people can face when attempting to reintegrate into society after imprisonment or rehabilitation.
Years spent dealing with addiction can interrupt education, employment and personal development. Some individuals emerge with limited savings, few qualifications and strained family relationships.
They may also encounter stigma from employers, acquaintances and even relatives who struggle to trust that meaningful change has taken place.
Simonboy explained that some people lose decades of their lives before they are ready to pursue recovery. By their 40s or 50s, they may find themselves trying to rebuild careers and relationships while feeling far behind their peers.
These challenges help explain why rehabilitation involves more than simply stopping drug use. Long-term recovery can also require counselling, employment opportunities, family support and a stable environment.
The film is supported by the Singapore Film Commission and the Infocomm Media Development Authority, through the Media Talent Progression Programme Long Form Content Grant and the Yellow Ribbon Project.
The Yellow Ribbon Project works to encourage acceptance of former offenders and support their reintegration into society.
A Message for Anyone Who Believes They Have Run Out of Chances
At its heart, Pace asks whether people can rebuild their lives after making mistakes that have hurt themselves and others.
Simonboy’s own experience gives that question a deeply personal dimension. His journey from addiction and repeated imprisonment towards recovery and a career in entertainment demonstrates that change can happen, even when the road ahead appears uncertain.
His message is not that the past should be forgotten or that the consequences of harmful actions do not matter. Rather, people need opportunities to take responsibility, make amends and build healthier futures.
For families affected by addiction, the film may also encourage a more complicated conversation about forgiveness, boundaries and the difficult process of rebuilding trust.
With Tan’s physical transformation, Zaki’s first feature-film performance and Simonboy’s personal connection to its subject matter, Pace brings a difficult social issue into the spotlight through a story of running, family and redemption.
The film is now showing in Singapore cinemas.
And for Simonboy, its most important message remains simple: the road to recovery may be long, but the possibility of a fresh start begins when a person decides they are still worth saving.
