Priyanka Chopra Jonas shares new details on Malti Marie’s NICU start and calls her a “performer”
priyanka chopra jonas is speaking candidly about her daughter Malti Marie’s early health struggle and the way motherhood has reshaped her priorities. In recent interviews tied to a magazine feature and a podcast appearance, she described Malti as a child with a big personality and revisited the family’s intense time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The comments center on the emotional weight of Malti’s premature birth, the long hospital stay that followed, and the lingering fear that can come with being a NICU parent.
What Priyanka Chopra Jonas said about Malti Marie’s personality and daily life
In an interview for Marie Claire’s March 2026 Craftsmanship Issue, Priyanka Chopra Jonas described Malti Marie Chopra Jonas as a “born performer, ” saying her four-year-old daughter loves being in the middle of a room telling jokes and “singing at the top of her voice. ” Speaking to Lola Ogunnaike, she said it is a “wonder” to watch Malti grow into “this human being” who carries elements of her parents and extended family, adding: “Every day she’s a surprise. She’s the greatest gift of my life. All my priorities have changed. Everything starts and ends with her. ”
She also said parenthood has changed how she approaches her career decisions. Because work can take her out of the country regularly, she said she has become more discerning about which jobs to accept and has found “power” in being able to say “no, ” something she said used to be difficult.
NICU timeline, pregnancy struggles, and the fear that lingers
In the same Marie Claire interview, she said Malti had “a difficult start to life, ” spending 110 days in the NICU, and described her daughter as “very coveted and very desired” after she had “a really tough time with pregnancies. ” She called Malti her “miracle baby” and said everything stopped when Malti was born.
She also described the lasting anxiety that can come with that experience, saying she remains in “constant fear” when Malti is not right by her side—whether Malti is at school or Priyanka Chopra Jonas is in a different country—explaining it as the feeling that “your heart is running outside of your body. ”
Separately, she discussed the premature birth and NICU period on Jay Shetty’s podcast, describing the first moments in intensive care and the restrictions that meant only one parent could be present at a time. She recalled the first time Malti cried in the NICU and described it as faint, “like a cat, ” while family members flew in as she and Nick Jonas stayed focused on the hospital.
Nick Jonas describes the intensity of Malti’s birth and the couple’s hospital routine
Nick Jonas has also spoken about the circumstances of Malti’s arrival, describing a sudden change in timing from an expected April arrival to an earlier delivery after complications. He described Malti’s condition at birth as “very intense, ” including that she weighed 1 pound 11 ounces.
He said Malti required six blood transfusions and constant monitoring, and described a demanding schedule during what he called “COVID-19 time, ” with the couple working 12-hour shifts so one of them was always at the hospital. He said the NICU experience left visceral memories, including the lingering sense of smell tied to being there every day, and described the mix of comfort and fear in seeing other families enduring similar situations.
He also reflected on how those early struggles shaped their daughter’s spirit, saying every day feels like a gift and that you can sense it in her excitement about everything.
Quick context
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has described faith and daily rituals as part of coping during the NICU months, including Nick Jonas singing to Malti and Priyanka playing recorded mantras softly near her crib. Across both conversations, she emphasized that Malti was “very desired, very coveted, and treasured, ” and that the journey was emotionally overwhelming.
What’s next
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is currently promoting her work and speaking more openly about how motherhood affects her choices, including when projects require travel. As she continues to balance work and family life, priyanka chopra jonas has signaled that future decisions will be guided by instinct—especially after the high-stakes months that defined Malti Marie’s earliest chapter.
