Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Purchased Fingernails to Display in Times Square
(New York, NY – July 12, 2018) Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square unveiled the fingernail exhibit of Mr. Shridhar Chillal of Pune, India, who had not cut his nails since 1952. Embarking on his journey at the age of 14, he has grown his nails for 66 years. At age 82, he will be memorialized as having the longest fingernails in the world.
Ripley’s flew Mr. Chillal from India to the United States to cut his nails and forever memorialize them in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. Chillal decided to grow his nails when he was scolded by his school teacher as a result of accidentally breaking the teacher’s long nail. The teacher said that Chillal would never understand the importance of what he had done because Chillal had never committed to anything. “I took it as a challenge,” said Chillal, and there was no looking back.
“Ripley’s is privileged to display this truly unique and one-of-a-kind exhibit. Mr. Chillal dedicated his life to something truly remarkable and Ripley’s is the perfect home to honor his legacy. While he may have cut his fingernails, his nails will be forever memorialized inside Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square.” Suzanne Smagala-Potts, PR Manager, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Mr. Chillal’s unusual choice didn’t stop him from leading a normal and happy life. He married, has two children, three grandchildren, and enjoyed a successful career as a Government Press Photographer. However, as he aged, his long nails were proving more challenging to maintain an ordinary lifestyle. He found it difficult to sleep, and even a gust of wind was cause for alarm. In the memorial case – Believe it or Not! – his cut fingernails are laid flat and span a length of over 31 feet, the height of a three-story building.
He only grew the nails on his left hand. His right hand’s nails are trimmed. Due to years of growing his nails and the weight of the nails, his hand is permanently handicapped. He cannot open his hand from a closed position or flex his fingers.
For media assets, including high-res images, videos, and interviews, please visit www.ripleys.com/fingernails.
The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square museum features 20 galleries and more than 500 artifacts from around the world. For more information about Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square, please visit www.RipleysNewYork.com or follow Ripley’s on social media at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RipleysNY
###
MEDIA CONTACTS
Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
smagala@ripleys.com
Office: 407-345-8010
Cell: 727-439-0136
Stacy Shuster
Director of Sales & Marketing
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square
sshuster@ripleysny.com
Office: 212-398-3133
Josh Knoller
Nicholas & Lence Communications
Josh@nicholaslence.com
Office: (212) 938-0836
Cell: (201) 294-9586
About Ripley Entertainment
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. www.ripleys.com family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 14 million people visit its 100-plus attractions in 11 countries each year. In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in countries around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada.
