Archive · 2 Nov 2025
US Content Creator Calls 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' Set Design Job 'Worst Ever' Due to Low Pay
A woman who makes videos online recently shared a story about a job she had a long time ago.
She used to work as a set designer for a big Bollywood movie called 'Kal Ho Naa Ho,' which starred Shah Rukh Khan.
She said it was the worst job she ever had because she was paid very little money for working extremely long hours.
She worked on designing an old, dirty diner for the movie.
She also mentioned that the men on the crew seemed to get paid more than the women.
Because of this bad experience, she decided to change the type of work she did.
Some people online agreed with her, but others said she shouldn't have taken the job if she didn't think the pay was good enough.
US content creator Ash Cantley stated her role as set designer on the 2003 film 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' was her 'worst job' due to severe underpayment.
Cantley reported working 12-17 hour days for $75 daily, significantly less than male crew members who allegedly received $125.
She described the work, which involved redesigning an 'abandoned' and 'filthy' diner, as the worst experience of her life.
The negative experience led Cantley, who has two decades of experience in production and as a celebrity executive, to switch careers.
Netizens have shown mixed reactions, with some questioning her decision to accept the job and others defending her, citing it as an early career experience.
- Who
- American content creator Ash Cantley
- What
- Described her role as set designer on the film 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' as the 'worst job' of her career due to severe underpayment and poor working conditions.
- When
- The film was released in 2003, and the comments were made recently at the TikTok Creator Summit in New York.
- Where
- The film was shot in New York City, USA, and Toronto, Canada, with parts filmed in India. The comments were made at a TikTok Creator Summit in New York.
- Why
- Cantley stated she was paid $75 for 12-17 hour days and was allegedly paid less than male crew members, leading her to switch careers.
Defense of Ash Cantley
Criticism of Ash Cantley
Reason for accepting the job
Defense of Ash Cantley
Cantley accepted the low-paying job early in her career because she was young, inexperienced, and desperate to break into the industry.
Criticism of Ash Cantley
Individuals questioned why Cantley accepted the job if she was unhappy with the pay, suggesting she should have known her worth and negotiated better.
Validity of the complaint
Defense of Ash Cantley
The experience highlights issues of unpaid labor and exploitation in the production industry, and her starting point as a valid reason for her position.
Criticism of Ash Cantley
Some argued that her complaint doesn't negate the film's quality and that production houses will always try to save money, implying it's a known industry practice.
Focus of her statement
Defense of Ash Cantley
Cantley is sharing a past negative experience to illustrate industry challenges and potential exploitation faced by young professionals.
Criticism of Ash Cantley
Critics suggest her focus on this old job is for views, pointing to her current social media performance and questioning her decision to air a complaint from two decades ago.
- Film
- Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)
- Role
- Set Designer
- Content Creator
- Ash Cantley
- Daily Pay
- $75
- Filming Locations
- New York City, Toronto, India