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Bollywood actor Salman Khan has approached the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), challenging a previous National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) order that dismissed his plea to initiate insolvency proceedings against Jerai Fitness over an unpaid amount of Rs 7.24 crore. The dispute pertains to “BEING STRONG,” a fitness equipment brand co-founded by Salman Khan in collaboration with Jerai Fitness.

Khan’s appeal was listed before a two-member bench of NCLAT last week but was adjourned at the request of his counsel. The bench, comprising Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and Member (Technical) Barun Mitra, has now scheduled the next hearing for September 15, 2025. “Counsel for the appellant prays for an adjournment, adjourned to 15.09.2025,” stated NCLAT in its order dated August 22, 2025.

Earlier, in May 2025, the Mumbai bench of NCLT had rejected Khan’s insolvency plea, noting that while an undisputed debt of Rs 1.63 crore along with GST was due, the remainder of the claim was disputed and falls within the domain of recovery proceedings.

Khan, who owns the trademark “BEING STRONG” and holds exclusive rights to grant licenses, had entered into a trade license agreement with Jerai Fitness in October 2018. Jerai Fitness was granted permission to use the trademark on its products. Due to business interruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic, Khan had agreed to revise the royalty payable by Jerai Fitness up to March 31, 2023.

After the company allegedly defaulted on payments, Khan issued a demand notice on September 14, 2024, seeking Rs 7.24 crore along with 24% annual interest, prompting him to move NCLT. Jerai Fitness argued that a pre-existing dispute existed and that the company had invested significant funds to develop its X-tend and Proton product lines.

NCLT also highlighted that while Jerai Fitness had rights to manufacture, market, distribute, and promote products under the “BEING STRONG” trademark, all major decisions regarding these processes required prior approval from Khan or his authorised representative, Alvira Agnihotri. Products not pre-approved by the petitioner could not be distributed by Jerai Fitness.