Working on Kal Ho Naa Ho was ‘worst’ job for Ash, 'bad’ experience forced her to...!

The 2003 Bollywood classic Kal Ho Naa Ho, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Saif Ali Khan, continues to be celebrated as one of Indian cinema’s most emotional and memorable films. However, an unexpected revelation by American content creator Ash Cantley has brought a new perspective to the movie’s behind-the-scenes story. According to her, working on the film turned out to be the “worst” experience of her life - one that ultimately made her quit the industry altogether.

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Ash Cantley’s Shocking Revelation

Ash Cantley, an American influencer known for her Talk Pop To Me series where she dissects pop culture and celebrity gossip, recently spoke about her unpleasant experience on Kal Ho Naa Ho. At the TikTok Creator Summit in New York last week, she shared that she has nearly twenty years of experience as a TV producer and celebrity executive.

During a casual conversation at the event, she befriended another creator who was deeply passionate about Bollywood. Ash recalled how she had to check her IMDb profile to remember the “random” Indian film she had worked on years ago. The other creator’s response surprised her - they told her the film was “like the Titanic of American films.”

“It was the worst job of my life”

Sharing details about her time on the set, Ash said, “I worked on the film Kal Ho Naa Ho, and it was so bad that I ended up switching careers.” Further, she added, “I had such a bad experience on that film that I probably tried to block it out. First of all, I got paid $75 a day, and I’m talking 12 to 17-hour days. I was a set designer, which means I spent most of my time redesigning this diner, inch by inch.”

According to her, the diner set was in terrible condition when she joined. “It was abandoned and had so much filth,” she revealed.

“It was the worst job of my life. I was severely underpaid. I’ll never do that again,” said Ash.

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A post shared by Ash Cantley| Talk Pop To Me (@ashcantley)

Backlash and Disbelief Online

Ash’s claims quickly spread online, drawing mixed reactions. While some users were sceptical and questioned whether she actually worked on the film, others wondered why she accepted the job if it was so poorly paid and unpleasant.

In response to the criticism, Ash posted a follow-up video explaining that she has “no proof” beyond her IMDb credit because she didn’t own a phone with a camera at the time. She also pointed out that the issue of unfair wages isn’t unique to Bollywood.

She stated that those criticising Indian cinema for exploitation should remember that “Hollywood has the same issues too.”

“I was young, dumb, and desperate to get in the industry”

Ash also opened up about the gender pay gap she experienced while working on the film. “I think the men got paid $125. I accepted it because I was young, dumb and desperate to get in the industry. I am not angry about it, in fact, most jobs in production were like that, and we were paid peanuts,” she said.

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A post shared by Ash Cantley| Talk Pop To Me (@ashcantley)

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The Film That Became an All-time Bollywood Classic

Despite her negative experience, Kal Ho Naa Ho remains an iconic Bollywood film. Directed by Nikhil Advani and written by Karan Johar and Niranjan Iyengar, the romantic drama was produced by Yash Johar under Dharma Productions. Upon its release, it became one of the highest-grossing films of 2003 and continues to be remembered for its emotional depth, timeless music, and stellar performances.