Content creator Kiki Darling has been dropped from Jack Neo’s upcoming film Ah Boys To Firefighters and his role recast after the production team verified a prior sexual assault conviction. The film, slated for a Chinese New Year release in 2027, has initiated reshoots to remove his footage.
Filmmaker Jack Neo’s return to the national service genre has hit an unexpected casting hurdle just weeks after unveiling his new ensemble. Kiki Darling—whose real name is Hari Kishen Balakrishnan—will no longer appear in the upcoming feature Ah Boys To Firefighters after production officials discovered and verified his criminal history.
The 24-year-old content creator had been introduced to the media on August 31 during a set visit at Punggol Fire Station, standing alongside fellow newcomers as one of the film’s leading men. Less than two weeks later, the production halted his involvement following online revelations about his past.
Verification and Casting Changes at Punggol Fire Station
Discussion of the aspiring actor’s history began circulating online immediately after the August 31 cast reveal, which followed an open casting call in June that attracted more than 1,000 hopefuls. A spokesperson for the Ah Boys To Firefighters production team told The Straits Times on September 9 that they verified the conviction on September 8.
“We were very surprised to hear about it,”
A spokesperson for the Ah Boys To Firefighters production team, via The Straits Times
The production crew confirmed that none of the staff had been aware of Hari’s previous conviction prior to the online reports, noting that none of the cast members had declared any prior convictions during casting. Following discussions with the production, Hari decided to step down from the project.
“He also understands that if we were to continue with him, given that he is one of the main characters, there are potential reputational risks in us casting him,”
A spokesperson for the Ah Boys To Firefighters production team, via The Straits Times
Hari had been cast to play Ramesh Menon, one of four national servicemen posted to the same fire station. Also starring in the film are Singapore actors Raynold Tan, 28, and Luqmaan Hakiim, 23, and Malaysian actor and content creator Chai Chang Yong, 30. The production team is actively looking for another actor to take over his role, and reshoots are currently underway while editors work to remove his existing footage. The film is slated for a 2027 Chinese New Year release, with casting for future movie projects set to go through more stringent processes.
Details of the 2021 Court Proceedings
According to a CNA report in September 2021, Hari, then 20, pleaded guilty to committing sexual assault on a 23-year-old male friend after a night of drinking. The offenses took place in November 2020 after a drinking session involving Hari, a 23-year-old male victim and several friends. According to court proceedings reported at the time, the victim was almost unconscious after drinking alcohol at a friend’s apartment. Hari sexually assaulted him in a bedroom for about 17 minutes and filmed seven video clips of the acts. The victim had not indicated consent before he passed out.
Although Hari later deleted the clips, police recovered them during forensic investigations, and he was arrested the day after the incident. He pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault by penetration and one count of making an obscene film, with a molestation charge taken into consideration for sentencing. Described as stateless, the aspiring actor was sentenced to at least six months of reformative training, a regimented rehabilitation programme for those under 21 who commit relatively serious crimes. During sentencing, District Judge May Mesenas said rehabilitation was the predominant consideration for young offenders, although deterrence also had to be taken into account because of the seriousness of the offences.
Future Production Protocols and Ensemble Impact
The sudden departure alters the lineup for Jack Neo’s feature, which centres on four full-time national servicemen—Ayden Cheong, played by Raynold Tan; West Seah, played by Chai Chang Yong; Hassan, played by Luqmaan Hakiim; and Ramesh Menon, previously played by Hari—who are posted to the same fire station and have different attitudes towards their service. As they respond to increasingly dangerous emergencies, they are forced to confront fear, trauma, guilt and the realities of saving lives.
Jack Neo, 66, revealed the four main leads to local reporters on August 31 during a set visit at Punggol Fire Station after searching internally and sorting through over 1,000 audition clips from an open casting call in June. The film also features appearances and guidance from characters played by Tosh Zhang, Zhin Sadali, Maxi Lim, and Noah Yap as the recruits gradually mature into a close-knit team.
