Mumbai: Singer and actor Nick Jonas has shared an emotional account of the frightening hours surrounding the birth of his daughter, Malti Marie, describing a moment when survival was uncertain and every second mattered.
Speaking on a recent episode of Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, Jonas reflected on the premature arrival of his and Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ first child in January 2022. The couple had been preparing for an April birth, he said, when an unexpected call changed everything.
What followed, Jonas recalled, was a rush into crisis mode. Malti was born extremely early, weighing just 1 pound and 11 ounces, and required immediate medical intervention. He described the newborn’s condition at birth as alarming, crediting the neonatal intensive care unit staff for stepping in without delay.
According to Jonas, doctors quickly resuscitated and intubated the baby, beginning what would become a long and emotionally draining stay in the NICU. Over the next three and a half months, Malti underwent intensive treatment, including six blood transfusions, as she gradually gained strength.
The experience unfolded during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding another layer of strain. Jonas said he and Chopra Jonas divided their days into 12-hour shifts at the hospital, ensuring one of them was always by their daughter’s side. The sterile smell and constant hum of machines, he noted, are memories that remain vivid even now — both unsettling and oddly reassuring.
He also spoke about the quiet bond formed with other families in the unit, all facing similar fears and hopes. Watching Malti improve day by day, he said, was a lesson in patience and gratitude.
Eventually, after months of careful monitoring and treatment, Malti was deemed strong enough to go home. Today, Jonas says, she is healthy and thriving. Reflecting on her journey, he added that every day now feels like a blessing shaped by how hard-fought her beginning was.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has previously shared her own memories of that period, recalling that Malti was born a full trimester early and was so small she fit in the palm of her hand. She has spoken about standing in the operating room as doctors worked to stabilise her newborn, unsure of what the outcome would be.
In the years since, the couple has embraced a slower, more intimate family life. Chopra Jonas has said that simple routines — like quiet Sunday mornings spent together in bed — have become their most cherished moments.
On the professional front, Chopra Jonas is preparing for a busy slate ahead. She is set to appear alongside Mahesh Babu in SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film Varanasi, slated for a Sankranti 2027 release, and will also star in The Bluff, a period drama in which she plays a 19th-century Caribbean pirate, scheduled to release on February 25.
