“Worst Job of My Life”: Ash Cantley Reveals Harsh Reality Behind Kal Ho Naa Ho Set Experience

A famous film behind a difficult experience

Kal Ho Naa Ho, directed by Nikkhil Advani and produced by Dharma Productions, is often celebrated as a landmark of Bollywood romance.   Cantley says that working on the set was chaotic: she was hired as a set designer, assigned to rebuild a diner-set described as “abandoned and filled with filth”, and found herself working 12 to 17-hour days.

Pay, disparity and disillusionment

Cantley revealed she was paid around US$75 per day (approx ₹6,000), while male colleagues working similar hours reportedly earned around US$125 per day (approx ₹11,000).   She admitted she accepted the job because she was “young, dumb and desperate” to break into the industry, yet the gap in pay and the tough conditions left her deeply dissatisfied.

Making a choice to leave behind the chaos

Rather than return to similar work, Cantley opted to switch careers entirely. She described the experience as “the worst job of my life” and said it forced her to rethink her trajectory.   Although she qualified that she holds no personal vendetta against Bollywood and that such treatment was common in production work at the time, the moment became a turning point for her.

What this incident signals

While Kal Ho Naa Ho remains beloved by millions, Cantley’s revelation underlines a less-seen side of big film productions: the grueling schedules, harsh conditions and wage inequalities behind the glamor. Her story invites the industry — both in India and globally — to reflect on working conditions for junior crew members, especially women.

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In short, Ash Cantley’s candid reflection turns the spotlight onto what happens behind the scenes of a cherished film: it was a dream-job turned nightmare-lesson, and one that redirected her career path altogether.