Nick Jonas is finally opening up about the birth of his and Priyanka Chopra Jonas‘ daughter, Malti Marie.
The singer was on the February 4th episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast. Jonas became emotional recounting the moments after she was born, her NICU fight, and her current status today.
Born Early
Malti was born via surrogate in January 2022.
When Jonas recalled that moment, he said she “came to the world under, sort of, very intense circumstances. We were expecting her to arrive in April of the year she was born, and we get a call that it’s going to be sooner. So basically, we went into action.”
When the couple made it to the hospital, Malti was born, at just 1 pound, 11 ounces, and purple. Jonas added, “These angels at the NICU resuscitated her in that moment, and got her taken care of really quickly and intubated and everything else.”
After she was resuscitated, Malti was brought to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Chopra also talked about her experience with the whole event in British Vogue in January 2023.
“I was in the OR when she came out. She was so small, smaller than my hand,” Chopra explained. “I saw what the intensive-care nurses do. They do God’s work. Nick and I were both standing there as they intubated her. I don’t know how they even found what they needed [in her tiny body] to intubate her. I didn’t know if she would make it or not.”
Splitting Time in the Hospital
Jonas and Chopra came together for their new family, supporting Malti in the hospital.
She was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, though in the later throes of it. During that time, the pair “would basically do 12-hour shifts at the hospital for three and a half months.”
Malti “fought every day” and “slowly started to gain some weight.” Over her time in the hospital, Malti received six blood transfusions, and as she improved, the premie finally got to go home with her parents after three and a half months.
Jonas still remembers his visits to the hospital as if it were yesterday.
“I could still sort of smell it, you know? There are always visceral things. It was both comforting and frightening to be there every day and to see other families going through similar situations.”
Malti’s Current Status
Today, Malti is thriving at four years old.
Reflecting on everything that’s happened, Jonas commented, “I feel like she knows how she entered the world and what that first chapter of her life was like. And so every day is a gift, and you can actually feel it in her in the way that she behaves and how exciting everything is.”
Chopra seconds her husband’s feelings, speaking to PEOPLE in July 2025 about their family. There is one thing the three of them love to do every week. “Sunday morning snuggles in bed,” she said. “They have to happen. It’s mandatory.”
For the actress, spending time with her family is where she wants to be.
Chopra added, “The biggest luxury in our lives is being able to waste time together or spend time together and just be languid in it and not worry about having to go somewhere.”
Malti’s presence goes beyond just her incredible birth story. Her name carries weight, too. “Malti” is Chopra’s mother’s middle name, while “Marie” honors Nick’s mother.