This article was posted on June 26, 2026, on Metro Style.
The pandemic reshaped many aspects of people’s lives—from their routines and education to the careers they once thought they would keep forever. For Singapore-born, Indian-descended content creator Darshen, it was also the unexpected beginning of a completely new chapter.
As Pride Month is celebrated around the world, it is only fitting to shine the spotlight on one of the most beloved personalities on TikTok and Instagram. Through his relatable humor and authentic personality, Darshen has built a massive following, earning the admiration of netizens across the globe—especially in the Philippines.
METRO recently had the opportunity to spend a day with the internet star, getting to know the person behind the viral videos, his journey from aviation to content creation, and the advocacy that continues to inspire him to share his story with millions online.
Darshen joined the METRO team for a wheel-throwing class at Laro Ceramics in Bonifacio Global City. What seemed like a simple pottery session quickly turned into an afternoon filled with laughter and friendly competition, as Darshen’s playful side emerged after I became surprisingly determined to craft the perfect mug.
The fun-filled day eventually led us to Sunnies Café, where over good food and casual conversations, one simple question sparked a deeper story. “Darshen, have you always been into doing creative things?”
What began as a lighthearted conversation soon unfolded into something much more—a candid look at how a former aviation professional found himself embracing a new path and, in the process, becoming one of social media’s most recognizable creators. This is the story of Darshen.
Before the spotlight
As mentioned earlier, the day kicked off with a wheel-throwing class, and when asked if creativity had always been part of his life, Darshen had a simple and straightforward answer.
“No, I was very much into academics when I was young,” he shared.
It may come as a surprise, considering how creative he is today through his TikTok skits and online content. But growing up, Darshen was focused on excelling in school, a path that was strongly encouraged and supported by his parents.
Back then, he found himself torn between two aspirations. One was the more traditional route his parents had envisioned for him, pursuing a respected profession such as medicine or law. The other was a dream he had quietly held onto since childhood: becoming an actor.
“It was only very much later on in my adulthood that I explored the creative side. But I always knew when I was young that I thought I had a creative side in me, like I really wanted to pursue acting when I was young,” Darshen told METRO.
As the years went by, neither corporate success nor acting became his first career. Instead, as he has often shared in his videos, Darshen worked as a flight attendant for the prestigious Singapore Airlines.
For him, it was a career that brought both fulfillment and stability. His parents were equally happy with his choice, as being part of Singapore Airlines, although not exactly on their bingo card, was still considered a dream job and a steady profession many would aspire to have.
Of course, your biggest question right now might be: How exactly did content creation come into the picture for Darshen?
An unexpected beginning
“I think it just happened by chance.” That was how Darshen described his unexpected journey from being a full-time flight attendant to becoming one of social media’s recognizable content creators.
Like millions around the world, Darshen’s life was disrupted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. With strict travel restrictions in place, airline operations were heavily affected, leaving many aviation workers searching for other opportunities.
“And when the flights were grounded, a lot of us were doing other jobs. And I think my friends were the ones who encouraged me to pursue TikTok, because back then, TikTok was exploding,” he recalled.
With his career temporarily paused and plenty of time on his hands, Darshen decided to give content creation a try, encouraged by friends who saw the platform’s growing popularity. “I think the first few videos I did were basically comedy skits. That’s what I tried to do. I had no background in editing. No background in filming. No background at all,” he shared.
What started as a pastime slowly turned into something bigger. Still, when flights resumed, Darshen found himself torn between two worlds. Although his online presence was steadily growing, walking away from aviation was far from easy.
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” he admitted, recalling the months he spent going back and forth between being a flight attendant and pursuing content creation.
Part of the struggle stemmed from his deep love for the profession. He also remembered the encouragement he received from his seniors and mentors in the aviation industry, many of whom believed that being a flight attendant was truly his calling.
Eventually, however, he realized he had to choose. Leaving aviation was one of the hardest decisions he had to make, but a piece of advice from a friend ultimately changed his perspective. “It was a friend who told me that there can be many Darshens in the airline industry. But there can only be one Darshen in the media industry,” he revealed.
Looking back, Darshen believes taking the leap was necessary. After all, he only has one life to live, and passing up the opportunity to pursue content creation full-time would have left him wondering what could have been.
Today, that decision is exactly why millions continue to see Darshen on their screens—a risk he took with no guarantees, but one he knew he would regret not taking.
Finding his voice within the digital world
Far from achieving overnight success, Darshen admitted that his journey into content creation was anything but easy. In the beginning, he had to juggle his growing passion with his stable career as a flight attendant. Despite the challenges and uncertainty, he never lost sight of his aspirations.
“I’m someone who’s like a dreamer, I dream big dreams,” he shared.
And while there were people who doubted his ambitions early on, Darshen said one of the biggest lessons he has carried with him is staying true to his own path. “Everyone’s journey is based on your own growth and your own dreams. So, I think one thing I’ve learned is that never let people tell you what you can and cannot be,” he said.
Today, Darshen boasts more than 1.5 million followers and over 121 million likes on TikTok. Looking back, he admitted that the success and opportunities he enjoys now were never something he fully expected. Still, the dreamer in him always held on to hope that things would eventually work out.
Despite his massive online following, Darshen said he still doesn’t see himself as a huge content creator. Instead, he considers his milestones as a way of honoring the people who have supported him throughout his journey. “I just felt like that post was about paying tribute to the fans and followers who stood by me or seeing me evolve as a content creator,” he explained.
As for his creative process, Darshen revealed that while some content requires planning, many of his ideas come naturally and are often driven by spontaneity.
“I think that’s the beauty of this, of what we do, is because you never know. But also, it’s stressful. It is kind of stressful in a sense because you always expect that spontaneity to come in order for you to stay in the creative space or the creative zone,” he explained.
A special connection to Filipinos
As Darshen’s career as a content creator continued to grow, one of the most unexpected yet rewarding parts of his journey has been the overwhelming support he has received from Filipinos.
In particular, many Filipinos living abroad have found comfort and connection through his content. According to Darshen, he often comes across comments from overseas viewers sharing how his videos remind them of home.
“I do see that I think I’ve seen or realized in my videos, some people are like, ‘Oh, because of you, I miss the Philippines.’ And then they are based in Canada or they’re based in the US,” he shared.
For the content creator, messages like these make his work even more meaningful. In fact, he admitted that he never expected Filipinos to connect so deeply with his sense of humor or fully understand the kind of content he puts out.
“But I’m thankful that they did. And they know or they do enjoy the sense of humor that I put out,” he said.
Darshen believes that what resonates most with Filipino audiences is the authenticity and vulnerability he brings to his content. According to him, Filipino viewers have a strong sense of what feels genuine and what does not.
“I think because my Filipino audience are very sensitive. They are able to catch something that is not real or doesn’t feel authentic. They are able to catch it,” he explained.
Over the years, Darshen has also spent more time traveling back and forth to the Philippines—not only to explore the country and learn more about its people, but also to gain a deeper understanding of realities that are often overlooked on social media. Through these experiences, he has found a greater purpose in using his platform to shed light on stories and perspectives that deserve to be seen, turning them into an advocacy that now forms a meaningful part of his work as a content creator.
Using his platform for good
Being a content creator may come with plenty of exciting opportunities, but for Darshen, the role also carries a significant responsibility.
Beyond creating comedy skits and entertaining content, one of the biggest challenges he faces is ensuring that the content he puts out has a positive influence on younger audiences who consume social media every day.
“I think the younger generation really does consume content now, and I think that’s why I think I’ve become more conscious about what I put up and I try to make sure that I set a good example to the younger generation and inspire them to be the best version of themselves,” he said.
Driven by that purpose, Darshen has spent the past several years working with various organizations, both in Singapore and in countries he frequently visits, including the Philippines through Project PEARLS.
His journey with Project PEARLS began in October 2024. Since then, he has actively supported initiatives benefiting communities in Tondo, Manila—a place whose stories had already left a lasting impression on him long before he became a content creator.
“The stories that I’ve heard of Tondo really moved me, and I really wanted to help. So, I had this promise whereby when I grew up, and I started earning money, I wanted to find a way to give back to Tondo and do something special for them,” he recalled.
What was initially intended to be a one-time visit soon became something much more meaningful. After returning to Singapore, Darshen found himself constantly thinking about the people he met and how he could continue helping them.
“I felt that the stories that I heard came into reality for me. So, when I went back to Singapore, I kept thinking about what I’ve done in Tondo and I just felt like I had this recurring thought of what more I could do and what else I could do to provide,” he shared.
Now, nearly two years into his partnership with Project PEARLS, Darshen continues to support programs aimed at empowering women in Tondo. Looking ahead, the content creator hopes to keep contributing to the community for as long as he can.
For Darshen, inspiring others and making a difference in people’s lives has become the greatest reward of his career. More than the views or viral success, it is the impact he creates that gives his work true meaning.
Looking back on the risks he took to pursue content creation, Darshen has no regrets. Through the people he has inspired, the communities he has helped, and the stories he continues to share, he has found a purpose that proves he made the right choice.
