Shridhar Chillal (born 29 January 1937) is an Indian former photographer. He is best known for holding the world record for the longest fingernails ever reached on a single hand, with a combined length of 909.6 centimeters (358.1 inches). Chillal’s longest single nail was his thumbnail, which measured 197.8 centimeters (77.87 inches). He stopped cutting his nails in 1952.[1]
Although proud of his record-breaking nails, Chillal had faced increasing difficulties due to the weight of his finger nails, including disfigurement of his fingers and loss of function in his left hand. He claims that nerve damage to his left arm from the nails’ immense weight has also caused deafness in his left ear.[2] He appeared in Jackass 2.5, where he displayed his nails.[3]
On 11 July 2018, Chillal had his fingernails cut with a power tool at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum in New York City, where the nails were put on display. A technician wearing protective gear cut the nails during a “nail clipping ceremony”.[4] Three of his fingernails are currently on display at Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
See also
- Diana Armstrong, who holds the world record for longest fingernails on a pair of female hands.[5]
References
- ^ Swatman, Rachel (29 September 2015). “Check out the longest fingernails ever in Shridhar Chillal’s Record Holder Profile Video”. Guinness World Records. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ Harding, Luke (11 December 2000). “Record fingernails go under the hammer”. The Guardian. New Delhi. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (21 July 2021). “The 7 Most Nauseating “Jackass” Stunts Ever Performed”. Pop Dust. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
- ^ Mahdawi, Arwa (12 July 2018). “Nails in the coffin: man with world’s longest fingernails finally cuts them off”. The Guardian. New York. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ “Diana Armstrong: The longest fingernails EVER”. Guinness World Records. Retrieved 22 May 2026.