Shridhar Chillal holds the world record

World record

A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...

 for the longest fingernails

Nail (anatomy)

A nail is a horn-like envelope covering the dorsal aspect of the terminal phalanges of fingers and toes in humans, most non-human primates, and a few other mammals. Nails are similar to claws, which are found on numerous other animals....

 ever reached on a single hand

Hand

A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...

, measuring 6.15 meters (20 feet 2.25 inches). Chillal's longest nail is 4.25 feet. He started growing his nails in 1952.

Although Chillal is proud of his record breaking nails, he had increasing difficulties with their weight, which already caused his left fingers to become disfigured (and more or less useless). Due to nerve damage caused from the nails' immense weight, Chillal is permanently deaf in the left ear (for he grew his fingernails on his left hand).

He finally cut off his nails in late 2000. However, he may make the odd appearance with his finger nails in tow. He appeared with his nails attached in the movie Jackass 2.5.