A man who has not cut his fingernails since 1952 has made world record – but says he has paid a price for his terrifying talons.
Indian man identified as Shridhar Chillal officially has has the world’s longest fingernails on one hand ever, with their combined length coming in at a staggering 909.6cm. One of his thumbnails alone is two metres long.
The 78-year-old is so proud of his wares that he has offered to dedicate them to a museum, but he says they were nothing but trouble in his younger years.
“When I was to get married, no one was ready to marry me, I saw nearly 10 to 12 girls,” he said.
“If the girl agreed to marry, her parents would say I would strangle their daughter’s neck and refuse.
“If the parents agreed, the girl would say she would not marry such a dirty person.”
Shridhar’s obsession started when he was at school in India after a teacher beat him and his friends for breaking one of his nails.
Told that he would
never understand the kind of care required not to break them Sridhar determined to find out.
“Our family members opposed, then teachers were opposed but I decided from that point on that I would never cut my nails again,” he said.
“Initially, difficulties appeared everywhere in my daily life.
“My family really didn’t like it, no one would wash my clothes and I had to wash them by hand.
“Finding a job was also difficult, as no one was ready to employ me.”
Thankfully Shridhar’s persistence paid off, and he has now achieved what he calls “the biggest goal in my life”.
“I can tell everyone now with pride a
bout my record,” he said.
“When I am on my travels, people will recognise me as a Guinness World Records title holder.”
Chillal, also a Guinness World Record holder, hasn’t cut the fingernails on his left-hand since 1952 and has the longest-fingernails in the world.
Now at 82, he is finally ready to cut his nails.
