Darshen Kuna
Darshen Kuna | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Education | Diploma in Accountancy and Finance |
| Alma mater | Nanyang Polytechnic |
Darshen Kuna is a Singapore‑based digital creator and influencer whose content spans travel, lifestyle and comedic narration. He gained visibility through viral social videos and has drawn both engagement and controversy in his public profile. As of 2025, Darshen has amassed over 480k followers on his Instagram and 1.5M followers on his TikTok.[1][2]
Background and early career
Kuna’s social‑media about page states that he resides in Singapore. On his Facebook “About” section, he lists past roles including flight steward at a major carrier and cabin crew at another airline, and notes that he studied a Diploma in Accountancy and Finance at Nanyang Polytechnic.[3] These prior experiences suggest that he transitioned from technical or aviation‑industry roles into full‑time content creation.
Career
Creator profile and content
Kuna is listed among the “Top 25 Singapore Male Influencers in 2025” by FeedSpot, ranked third in the list.[4] As of 2025, Darshen has amassed over 480k followers on his Instagram and 1.5M followers on his TikTok.[1][2]
One of his most‑shared videos features his travel with friend Dr Samuel Choudhury in a format where Samuel plans the trip and Darshen narrates with the catch‑phrase “My name is Darshen.” This video format was described as “hilarious and heart‑warming” in media coverage.[5]
His branding leans on the friendly side‑kick persona in travel adventures, combining light humour, relatability and aspirational elements. His influencer profile page also marks him as available for brand collaborations via email.[6]
Newsworthy incidents
“Peasants” scandal and apology
On 31 March 2025, Kuna posted a caption on social media directed at travellers flying economy class, referring to them as “economy‑class peasants”. The post outlined reasons why business class was preferable and ended: “So help me to like or share or whatever, I don’t care.”[7] The post drew backlash from the public, with one commenter labelling it “very rude and demeaning of him to call people peasants just because they fly economy.”[7]
On 2 April 2025, Darshen posted a video apology. He said the post was intended as satire and added: “I’m genuinely so sorry to the people that have been offended by the post … it means that I failed as a comedian.”[7]
In the video he asked rhetorically: “Did Stomp not know that it was satire?” and acknowledged the mistake, committing to “do better next time.”[7]
Volunteer work in Manila
In November 2024 when he posted a TikTok video showing himself doing volunteer work in the slums of Tondo, Manila, Philippines.[8] Known online as a "fabulous Singaporean man who flies business class and whom luxury sales associates love for being unable to resist buying beautiful things," Darshen's shift toward philanthropic content represented a departure from his usual lifestyle-focused material.[8]
In an exclusive interview with MS News, Darshen acknowledged that these reactions came as no surprise to him:[8]
"I think I give the impression that I was into this bougie lifestyle, so people couldn't fathom that I would be in Tondo. It was a surprise to them, but it was not like a surprise or shock to me, because I've known about the stories."
When Darshen was about 17 or 18 years old, he had heard about the harsh realities in Tondo at church. He learned stories about how young girls were forced into prostitution for survival, young people playing with dead animals as toys, and widespread hunger among residents living among garbage.[8] Darshen cited the example of "Smokey Mountain," a public housing project built around a landfill in Tondo during the 1990s, as emblematic of the community's struggles.[8]
"Those stories really moved me, really stayed with me till I became an adult."
However, because he was young at the time, he didn't have the money or resources to partake in mission work. As such, he resolved to find a way to help the community once he became an adult.[8]
Many years later, Darshen unexpectedly found himself with the platform he needed to make a difference. He shared: "I wanted my platform to be more than just about me. I wanted it to also highlight communities that don't have a voice but want to be heard."[8]
Partnership with Project PEARLS
Darshen heard about Project PEARLS, the Philippines-based non-government organisation (NGO) he is now part of from a Filipino friend.[8] The organisation, which has a 15-year history of helping various underprivileged communities in the Philippines, including Tondo, has several programs that aim to uplift the people in these communities.[8]
Key programs
Scholarship Program: Project PEARLS covers children's school fees and supplies. When the kids graduate high school, the organisation also sponsors them throughout university so they can get decent jobs. Darshen shared: "They [Project PEARLS] really do believe that education is one of the key ways to actually break the cycle of poverty."[8]
Hunger Relief Program: The NGO feeds hundreds of people in Tondo at least three times a week, or more if they have the donations to fund them.[8]
Giving Resources and Opportunities to Women (G.R.O.W.) Program: This initiative empowers women by teaching them skills such as sewing and design. These women turn recycled materials into apparel, which are then sold on the G.R.O.W. website. "The proceeds are used for the feeding programs, so it's given back to the community," Darshen explained.[8]
Seeing the organisation's heart for the people through their actions, Darshen said he felt "very confident" to work with them.[8]
First visit to Tondo (October 2024)
Darshen shared that his first time visiting Tondo in October 2024 felt surreal. "Everything that I've heard, it's what I'm seeing with my own eyes," he told MS News.[8]
During this visit, Darshen joined Project PEARLS' Hunger Relief Program and helped feed 500 individuals. For an hour, he scooped rice nonstop as people kept pouring in to get their fill.[8]
"It was really labour-intensive, because I got assigned to the rice cooking station and, the rice, you got to really go in with the strength. In my mind, I was like, thank God I worked out this morning."[8]
Challenges encountered
Something else made Darshen's first experience volunteering in Tondo a challenge, the mosquitoes. "I was getting bitten by mosquitoes all over my leg, my arms, my neck," he said, noting that he made the mistake of showing up in a sleeveless shirt and shorts.[8]
Learning from this experience, he made sure to cover up during his next few visits. "You just want as much precaution to also protect yourself, so that you are able to serve the people better as well," Darshen explained.[8]
Fifth visit to Tondo
Despite the mosquitoes and labour, Darshen kept returning to Tondo for the cause he believes in. Most recently, he flew to the Philippines to spend Valentine's Day with the members of the community, marking his fifth visit.[8] When asked why he traded beautiful flowers and a nice fancy dinner for volunteer work, Darshen explained:[8]
"I heard that many of the women in Tondo have never received flowers before, and I wanted to be a part of that."
He shared that while he is fortunate enough to be surrounded by his loved ones, he wanted this Valentine's Day to be different. "I didn't want Valentine's Day to just be about receiving love or receiving the flowers. I wanted it to be about giving love," said Darshen, who added that he will cherish the experience for the rest of his life.[8]
Seeing how happy the women were to receive a single stalk of rose, he was compelled to be grateful for everything he had.[8]
Supporting individual cases
Besides giving away flowers, Darshen also visited the homes of Dayday, a resident who has hydrocephalus, and Jefferson, who suffers from cerebral palsy.[8]
"We've been trying to get sponsors and donors for their needs."
The influencer added that he has been trying to spotlight their stories on his platform, while also liaising with Filipino brands for their support.[8]
An inspiring encounter
An unexpected encounter during his recent trip to Tondo made the experience even more special. A Filipino woman living in Singapore, who was in Tondo helping Project PEARLS that day, approached Darshen and told him she was inspired by his videos to donate and volunteer. She shared that she had pooled money with her friends to sponsor the residents' meal.[8] Darshen could not believe that his videos had made such a difference:[8]
"I'm so glad I did it, and that I was able to inspire a little change. I didn't used to think that until now that I saw it first hand."
The encounter has made him realize the need to be more conscious about the content he puts out. Darshen noted that the chance meeting further underscored what he believed to be the message of Valentine's Day "to inspire other people to love others."[8]
Call for medical professionals
Despite the ups and downs of volunteering, Darshen encourages other Singaporeans to join similar causes. He shared that Project PEARLS, in particular, is in need of doctors and nurses, from Singapore or otherwise, to help them provide medical assistance to the residents of Tondo.[8]
"I will just put it out there that we really need doctors and nurses to also step in and be on board."
Besides providing care to high priority cases such as Dayday and Jefferson, the organisation aims to reach the general community through weekly health checkups.[8]
Darshen explained the urgent need: "A lot of them are sick and they don't realise it, or they do not want to go to the hospital because it's going to cost them money," adding that these individuals can only endure their conditions, causing their health and their life to deteriorate.[8]
Long-term vision
While Darshen is aware that change will take time, he will continue his efforts as long as it takes.[8]
"The real, sad truth is that we can't change Tondo overnight, but we are doing what we can in our own means."
Fallout with Dr Samuel (2026)
Darshen Kuna first met Dr Samuel Choudhury, a Singapore-based general practitioner, in April 2023.[9] The pair frequently collaborated on content that documented their travels and daily interactions, developing a distinctive dynamic that resonated with audiences across social media platforms.
Dr Samuel, known on TikTok as @drsamuelgp, had gained a significant following by sharing medical lessons through storytelling and skincare science, amassing over 909k followers on TikTok as of 2026.[10] Meanwhile, Darshen, a comedian and content creator with over 1 million followers on TikTok under the name @kdarshen, had also garnered attention for his work, including content addressing social issues and community work supporting children in underprivileged areas.[11]
The duo's popularity peaked after a Europe trip in April 2025, which sparked the viral "My name is Darshen" trend.[9] In these videos, Dr Samuel would say "My name is Samuel, and I do..." followed by descriptions of various tasks he performed, while Darshen would simply say "My name is Darshen" and smile.[12]
The format highlighted their contrasting travel personalities: Dr Samuel was portrayed as the meticulous planner who booked flights, hotels, trendy restaurants, and even concert tickets, while Darshen played the carefree partner who happily tagged along, the quintessential "passenger princess."[13] Both seemed perfectly content in their roles, with one being the yin to the other's yang.[13]
The videos resonated so strongly that they inspired numerous parodies and led to Darshen hitting one million followers on TikTok during the height of their virality.[12]
Relationship speculation
As they began posting more regularly together, widespread speculation grew over whether they were romantically involved or simply close friends creating couple-style content.[9] The duo's chemistry in their videos led many viewers to label them as "couple goals."[14]
Despite public curiosity, both Darshen and Dr Samuel maintained that they were "besties." In response to a comment referring to Darshen as his "partner," Dr Samuel replied, "lab partner," adding to the ambiguity surrounding their relationship status.[14]
On Valentine's Day 2025 (February 14), Darshen posted a compilation video of him and Samuel, captioning it: "pov: you don't need a valentine cos you have your bestie."[14]
Speculation also arose regarding Dr Samuel's marital status, as he was often seen wearing a ring on his ring finger. In May 2025, he shared a video captioned:[14]
"He doesn't know it yet, but in 5 days, people all around the world will find his wife and kids that he never knew existed."
The post appeared to reference and satirize comments from followers who claimed he was secretly married with children. The duo never publicly clarified the exact nature of their relationship despite ongoing rumors online.[9]
Signs of trouble
Their last video together was uploaded on January 2, 2026.[9] Subsequent posts were flooded with comments asking about Dr Samuel's whereabouts, suggesting that fans had noticed his absence from Darshen's content.
On March 2, 2026, Darshen posted a video of himself walking alone in Paris with onscreen text saying, "Talked abt going to Paris tgt but now it's only me."[9] This cryptic message hinted at the fractured relationship between the former collaborators.
The revelation
Speaking during a livestream on Sunday, March 1, 2026, the 31-year-old Darshen confirmed that he and Dr Samuel are no longer in contact, months after netizens began speculating about their relationship.[9] The livestream, which was recorded and reshared on TikTok by user @roronoafujo, revealed previously private details about their fallout.
According to Darshen, the fallout stemmed from Dr Samuel feeling that he "didn't get respected as a doctor."[9]
"So he said that I kind of ruined his life, and that was very hard to swallow."
Darshen emphasized that their conversation had taken place privately and was never meant to be made public. Describing the livestream as "a very small, intimate group," he acknowledged:[9]
"I guess you guys know the secret is out."
He had previously stated: "That was something nobody really knows. I never really addressed it in my videos, and I don't think I want to address it in my videos."[9] Darshen went on to say he felt "hurt very deeply" following the fallout, alleging that Dr Samuel later "ghosted" him and "disappeared" from his life entirely.[9]
"I felt that it was very unfair."
According to Darshen, Dr Samuel had hoped to benefit from the visibility and popularity that came with their joint content. "When it didn't go according to the way he wanted, he said I ruined his life," he added.[9] The influencer maintained that he had initially kept the matter within his inner circle and had no intention of airing it publicly.[9]
Public reaction
Clips from the livestream later circulated online, drawing mixed reactions from netizens and fans who had followed the pair's journey.[9]
Some commenters expressed sympathy for Darshen, saying they could see both sides of the situation but felt it was unfair to "abandon a friend" after willingly participating in the collaboration.[9] One user wrote: "Darshen did not ruin his life. Samuel is a grown adult and he consented to doing those videos"[9]
Others questioned whether the pair had ever been in a genuine relationship. One commenter suggested they may have been "friends who decided to gain popularity by pretending to be an internet couple," adding that when things deteriorated, "Samuel decided he wanted out."[9]
Another user speculated that the fallout may have coincided with declining views, claiming that Darshen had benefited more from the partnership and was now struggling as engagement dipped. They added that he should "find peace and move on," maintaining that the two "were not in a relationship."[9]
References/Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "@darshen" Instagram. n.d. Accessed 18 November 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "@kdarshen" TikTok. n.d. Accessed 18 November 2025.
- ↑ “Darshen Kuna” Facebook. n.d. Accessed 18 November 2025.
- ↑ “Top 25 Singapore Male Influencers in 2025” Feedspot, 15 November, 2025. Accessed 18 November 2025.
- ↑ Ghazali, Rahmah. “'My name is Darshen’: Dr Samuel breaks silence on relationship with TikTor star Darshen Kuna; are they dating?” National World, 1 May, 2025. Accessed 18 November 2025.
- ↑ “Darshen Kuna” People’s Inc. n.d. Accessed 18 November 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Ong Su Mann. “Influencer says he's sorry if his post calling people 'peasants' offended anyone: 'I failed as a comedian'” Stomp, 3 April, 2025. Accessed 18 November 2025.
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.19 8.20 8.21 8.22 8.23 8.24 8.25 8.26 8.27 8.28 8.29 8.30 Tan, Kim. “Why S’porean influencer Darshen chose to spend Valentine’s Day helping the residents of Manila’s slums” Mustsharenews, 19 February, 2026. Accessed 23 February 2026.
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 Nadzri, Asyiqin. "'He said I ruined his life': S'porean influencer Darshen breaks silence on fallout with Dr Samuel, who allegedly ghosted him." MustShareNews, 4 March, 2026. Accessed 4 March 2026.
- ↑ "@drsamuelgp" TikTok. n.d. Accessed 5 March 2026.
- ↑ "@kdarshen" TikTok. n.d. Accessed 5 March 2026.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 “Viral TikTok Couple Darshen & Dr Samuel React to Rumors of Secret Wife & Kids” JustJared, 4 May, 2025. Accessed 4 March 2026.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Tan, Kim. "Why S'porean influencer Darshen chose to spend Valentine's Day helping the residents of Manila's slums." MustShareNews, 19 February, 2026. Accessed 4 March 2026.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Gazali, Rahmah. “'My name is Darshen’: Dr Samuel breaks silence on relationship with TikTor star Darshen Kuna; are they dating?” National World, 1 May, 2025. Accessed 4 March 2026.