Fast-forward to the Year 3000, and Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas are still head over heels in love with their baby girl Malti Marie, who was born via surrogate in Jan. 2022.
The famous couple surprised everyone with their baby announcement, later sharing on Mother’s Day 2022 that their little girl had spent over 100 days in the NICU.
“On this Mother’s Day we can’t help but reflect on these last few months and the rollercoaster we’ve been on, which we now know, so many people have also experienced. After 100 plus days in the NICU, our little girl is finally home,” they wrote on Instagram in May 2022. “Every family’s journey is unique and requires a certain level of faith, and while ours was a challenging few months, what becomes abundantly clear, in retrospect, is how precious and perfect every moment is.”
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They added, “We are overjoyed that our little girl is finally home, and just want to thank every Doctor, nurse and specialist at Rady Children’s La Jolla and Cedar Sinai, Los Angeles, who were there selflessly every step of the way. Our next chapter begins now, and our baby is truly a badass. Let’s get it MM! Mommy and Daddy love you.”
One year later, Chopra Jonas opened up about the experience of seeing Malti born early. “I was in the OR [operating room] when she came out,” Chopra Jonas told British Voguein Jan. 2023. “She was so small, smaller than my hand.”
“I saw what the intensive-care nurses do. They do God’s work,” she continued. “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.”
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She added, “We spent every single day with her on my chest, on my husband’s chest. I didn’t know if she would make it or not.”
Such a scary way to enter the world, but now the 17-month-old seems to be absolutely thriving — and her parents are (understandably) totally obsessed with her.
In honor of Chopra Jonas’s 41st birthday on July 18, we took a look back at all the times she and her husband showed their undying adoration for their little lovebug, Malti.
When Malti Was in the NICU
In an April 2023 cover interview with TODAY, Chopra Jonas opened up about the stressful experience of Malti being in the NICU.
When the Love Again star heard that her daughter, who was born via surrogate, came early, she was worried. Luckily, her husband was right there with her. “I remember he just held me by my shoulders, and I said, ‘Just tell me what to do, because I don’t know what to do,’” Chopra Jonas told the outlet. “And he’s like, ‘Just get into the car with me.’ And we drove to the hospital. She was born, and from the moment she took her first breath to now, she’s never been without one of us, ever.”
She went on, “I don’t think it was our test. I think it was her test. I realized very, very early that I did not have the luxury to be scared or to be weak, because she was scared and weak. And I had to be her strength as her mom. I needed to make her feel at every given moment that she’s not alone … that we’ve got her.” Aww!
When They Passed Down Their Traditions to Malti
Jonas comes from a Christian background and Chopra Jonas has a Hindu background, and they are excited to bring both of these traditions and cultures to their daughter’s lives.
“It’s really important to us that our daughter has an upbringing that is representative of our family and the things we love about [my wife’s] Indian culture and my American culture,” Jonas told PEOPLE in June 2022.
They seem to be doing a great job of that, and even took Malti on her first trip to India this year.
When They Celebrated Malti’s First Diwali
“Such a beautiful Diwali celebration with my ♥️,” the “Leave Before You Love Me” singer wrote on Instagram in Oct. 2022 “Happy Diwali everyone. Sending joy and light to you all. #diwali”
The little girl celebrated her first Festival of Lights in a cream-colored sari that matched her parents, and they looked absolutely adorable.
“Love, peace and prosperity to all,” Chopra Jonas wrote on Instagram. “From a heart truly laden with gratitude, I wish you all a Happy Diwali. Sorry I’m a little late but decided to stay in the moment just a little bit longer.. ॐ नमः शिवाय From ours to yours. Love and light 🪔🙏🏽❤️.”
When She Made Her Public Debut
When Malti’s dad was honored alongside the rest of The Jonas Brothers with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Jan. 2023, the little girl made her public debut. It was her first official event, and she looked adorable in a cream two-piece outfit with matching bow. Chopra Jonas was photographed just smiling at her little girl throughout the ceremony, and Jonas gave her a shoutout.
“Malti Marie, hi baby!” he said. “I can’t wait to come back here with you in 15 years and embarrass you in front of your friends,” he quipped.
When Malti Brought ‘A Sense of Calm’
Malti brings peace to their little family of three.
In an interview with British Vogue in Jan. 2023, Chopra Jonas shared, “It’s been 20 years of hustling and working at breakneck speed. I’ve always been like, ‘What’s the next thing?’ But now I feel I have a centre, a sense of calm, because every decision ends up being about her.”
She added, “I have, like, seven cameras in her room. There’s really nothing more satisfying than seeing her face as soon as her eyes open.”
When Her Priorities Changed After Becoming a Mom
Like many moms, motherhood changed the Quantico star. She told Us Weekly in March 2023 that she “had to reduce [her] pace” to focus on Malti.
“Like, I cannot do as many things as I used to,” she said. “Because I like to get home for bath time. I like to be there when she wakes up. Those are things that are important to me. … So I can’t do as much, but still, you figure it out, you know?”
She added, “My mom’s around, Nick’s parents come in when we have to travel. Both of us have to travel, but you kind of make it work. It takes a village and she’s the greatest gift of our lives.”
When They Carried on a Family Tradition
The Citadel star and Jonas have passed down a family tradition with their adorable daughter: traveling!
“She’s a little traveler,” Chopra Jonas told Entertainment Tonight in April 2023. “But my parents raised me like that, and so was my husband.”
Chopra Jonas “started traveling when I was very young, when I was, like, four or five months,” she explained, adding: “So it’s the same thing for her, right now. She’s not in school, so we can schlep her wherever we want. I love spending time with her so it’s so cool.”
They’ve taken her to England, New York City, and so many more places in her little life — more places than some people visit in a whole lifetime!
When Malti Helped Them Get Ready for the Met Gala
Chopra Jonas and the “Wings” singer looked fabulous at the Met Gala on May 1, 2023, and it’s thanks in part to the help of their daughter!
Jonas shared a photos on Instagram of his wife and daughter, writing, “Pre Met with my girls. ❤️” In one, Malti helps adjust his tie before the big event.
Meanwhile, Chopra Jonas wrote on her Instagram Stories, “MET glam with mama #MM.” She also shared a photo of Malti in her lap as she got her makeup done. We love how this little girl is such an important part of every moment with her parents!
When His New Song Was Inspired by Malti
Jonas’s love of Malti inspired a song on his new album, The Album.
He told Bustle in May 2023 that his song “Little Bird” was about his daughter and his brothers’ daughters.
“It’s about all our little birds, I think,” Jonas said. “Obviously I connect with it in a big way after the journey that my wife and I went on with our daughter.
“I think what’s so special about that song is that it transcends our individual journeys, and hopefully it’s going to be an anthem for a lot of parents out there,” he added.
When She Admitted She Would Move Countries For Her Daughter
Like her parents before her, Chopra Jonas would give up everything for her daughter.
In a May 2023 interview with India-based Femina Magazine, Chopra Jonas said, “I think encouraging girls to have dreams is key. To be able to navigate their aspirations and not set a glass ceiling. My parents didn’t do that with me. That’s the reason why you and I are here. Because we had parents that encouraged us and who didn’t treat us differently from our brothers. Who told us – you have a dream, we are here with you.”
She became Femina Miss World in 2000, and her parents gave up their careers so she could follow her dreams.
“At that time, I took it all completely for granted. I was like, of course it’s your parents’ job to do that. My career matters,” she told the outlet. “And I didn’t even think about it until I was writing my book. And then it dawned on me like now I’m in my 40s. And that, if I were asked to give up my career and just move countries, I would do it without question for my daughter.”
“It is, still, a huge sacrifice. And we are so blessed to have parents who did that,” she continued. “But, there are families under societal pressures that don’t necessarily know that they can let their daughters have aspirations.”
When They Were Open About Malti Finding Her Own Path
In an interview with YouTuber and comedian Lilly Singh, Chopra Jonas opened up about letting Malti find her own dreams. “As a new parent right now, I keep thinking about that I will never be imposing my desires, fears, my upbringing on to my child. I have always believed that children come through you, not from you,” she said.
“There is no such notion as ‘this is my child, and I will shape everything.’ They come to you in order to find and construct their own life,” she added.
When He Gave His Daughter Heartfelt Advice
The “Waffle House” singer gave Malti some heartfelt advice in a June 2023 interview with PEOPLE.
“Just be yourself,” he said. “There’s a lot of factors when it comes to just coming into your own skin and figuring out who you are. And if you just take one step at a time and do your best not to get overwhelmed, I think that that’s the best path forward.”
The star, who often brings Malti backstage with him, also shared a photo of his daughter this month, and she looked like his twin!
“❤️,” he simply captioned it.
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