Malti was born months earlier than expected, and her arrival marked the beginning of a long and uncertain battle for survival that kept her parents, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, by her side in the hospital for nearly four months.
The couple welcomed their daughter via surrogate in January 2022. At the time, they announced her birth with a short statement on social media, asking the public to respect their privacy as they adjusted to becoming parents.
“We are thrilled to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate,” they wrote. “We kindly ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family.”
While they initially kept the reasons for surrogacy private, Priyanka later explained that it was medically necessary. In an interview with British Vogue in February 2023, she shared that she had experienced medical complications and expressed deep gratitude toward their surrogate, describing her as generous, caring, and instrumental in bringing their daughter safely into the world.
Malti was born a full trimester early, a stage of prematurity that carries serious health risks. Priyanka recalled being in the operating room when her daughter was delivered, describing how tiny Malti was — smaller than her own hand. She watched as doctors and nurses worked urgently to intubate the newborn, calling the NICU staff “angels” for their life-saving care.
Shortly after birth, Malti was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Because her birth coincided with the first Omicron wave of COVID-19, strict hospital protocols were in place, allowing only Nick and Priyanka to visit, even though extended family members had traveled to support them.
The couple spent every day at the hospital, holding Malti against their chests and hoping for the best. Priyanka admitted that during those early weeks, she didn’t know whether her daughter would survive.
Nick later shared more details during an appearance on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast. He recalled receiving an unexpected call that Malti would be born much earlier than planned and rushing into action. When she arrived, she weighed just 1 pound, 11 ounces and was in critical condition.
“The NICU team resuscitated her immediately,” Nick said, crediting the doctors and nurses with saving her life. He explained that Malti was quickly intubated and stabilized before being placed under intensive care.
During her hospital stay, Nick and Priyanka took turns spending long shifts at her bedside for more than three months. Malti underwent six blood transfusions and fought through each day, slowly gaining strength. Eventually, she improved enough for her parents to finally bring her home after nearly four exhausting months.
Reflecting on the experience, Nick said he believes Malti carries that resilience with her. “Every day feels like a gift,” he shared, noting her joyful spirit and excitement for life.
In a later interview with People in July 2025, Priyanka spoke warmly about family life and cherishing quiet moments together. Despite their demanding careers, she said time spent simply being together is their greatest luxury, adding that Sunday morning cuddles in bed with Nick and Malti — who turned four in January — are a non-negotiable family tradition.
