The unique record holder for having longest nails is Mr Shridhar Chillal of Pune, India who has finally cut his nails after 66 years. With nails over 350 inches, Chillal hadn’t cut his nails since 1952.
At the age of 14, he had set his foot on this journey when he was scolded by his school teacher for accidentally breaking the teacher’s long nail (a sign of status in India). The teacher had remarked that Chillal would never get to know the importance of what he had done because he hadn’t committed to anything ever.
Mr Chillal remarked, “I don’t know whether the teacher is dead now or not but I would definitely like to say that the thing for which you scolded me, I took it as a challenge and I have completed the challenge and now, I am here.”
Taking up the extra-ordinary challenge never became a hurdle for him as he led a normal and happy life. He is a grandfather of three and a father of two. He also has a successful Government Press Photographer. But as he has aged enough, the longs nails now were becoming a challenge to maintain a normal life. He decided to grow the nails only on his left hand. However, because of years of nail growth and their weight, his hand is now permanently handicapped making it impossible for him to even flex his fingers.
Deciding that enough dedication had been put forward, it was now time to cut his nails. He flew to the United States to cut off his nails and memorialise them in Ripley’s Believe It or Not Times Square.
He told in an interview, “When I decided to cut my nails, it was difficult for me to make this decision, but when I realised that after cutting my nails, my nails will be at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! And they’re going to maintain it very nicely and for a lifetime, then I felt like I was doing the right decision and that’s why I decided to cut my nails.”
