Priyanka Chopra has given a rare insight into motherhood and how her 15-month-old daughter Malti ‘can get away with anything’. 

The actress, 40, welcomed her first child with husband Nick Jonas, 30, through a surrogate in January last year, with little Malti spending over 100 days in an NICU unit before being allowed to go home in May.

Priyanka says those ‘rollercoaster’ first few months have completely shaped how she parents her daughter as she was ‘so close to losing her’.

Starring on Elle’s May digital cover, Priyanka cuts a glamorous figure in silk nightwear and lace dresses as she talks all things motherhood, work and her marriage to one of America’s biggest boyband stars.

Priyanka admits she is struggling with the discipline side of parenting because she likes seeing Malti happy.

Mum life: Priyanka Chopra has given a rare insight into motherhood and how her 15-month-old daughter Malti ‘can get away with anything’

Candid: Priyanka says those ‘rollercoaster’ first few months have completely shaped how she parents her daughter as she was ‘so close to losing her’

The couple were terrified when after welcoming their daughter, she spent 100 days in a neo-natal unit. When Malti returned home, Priyanka would put her ear on her chest, just to hear she’s breathing.

‘I was so close to losing her so many times that she can get away with anything and I just want to see her happy. I want her to be the happiest,’ Priyanka says.

‘She’s got me wrapped around her finger. I don’t even know how I’ll ever discipline her because I just don’t have it in me.  She’s a super smiley, happy baby, and that’s all my goal is—to see her joyous. Every time she smiles, it lights up my world, and that’s all I want to do.’

Priyanka says she now understands a mother’s fierce duty to protect her children and is trying to emulate the childhood she had, surrounded by people who loved her.

‘Malti is always with her family and she can go anywhere with us. It was very important to us to be able to expose her to just life and its beautiful gifts,’ she says.

Elsewhere in the interview, Priyanka talks about her marriage to Nick and how they juggle their careers with being a family.

‘When you really care about someone, you try to alleviate whatever pressure is on them by doing some of the chores or by taking on something that they always do,’ she says.

‘It’s simple things: I love coffee in bed, and my husband realized that, and now I always have coffee in bed. That support is tremendously important, but it’s a two-way street.’

Pride and joy: The actress, 40, welcomed her first child with husband Nick Jonas, 30, through a surrogate in January last year, with little Malti spending over 100 days in an NICU unit

Flawless: Starring on Elle’s May digital cover , Priyanka cuts a glamorous figure in silk nightwear and lace dresses as she talks all things motherhood, work and her marriage to one of America’s biggest boyband stars

Motherhood: Priyanka admits she is struggling with the discipline side of parenting because she likes seeing Malti happy

Sweet: ‘She’s got me wrapped around her finger. I don’t even know how I’ll ever discipline her because I just don’t have it in me. She’s a super smiley, happy baby, and that’s all my goal is’

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas enjoy on romantic trip to Rome

Meanwhile, Priyanka opened up about her upcoming Netflix series Citadel – a propulsive, high-concept series in which she plays Nadia Sinh, top agent of the namesake global spy network.

The show’s executive producers The Russo Brothers have made it clear that Nadia’s character was inspired by James Bond and would do all the ‘heavy lifting’ in the series as opposed to her partner Mason Kane – a gender swap in which Priyanka welcomes in the male-dominated genre.

She said: ‘It’s fun to be doing the a**kicking and the cool lines and walking away from an explosion… At this point in my career, I’m looking for heavy lifts. I’m looking for challenges. I’ve learned enough about the craft and about the job that I want to flex my muscles and I want to find thoughts that I can sink my teeth into.’

And while the actress’ character takes on the typically male role in show, Priyanka is taking on gender inequality in real life as she opened up about working with Jennifer Salke, the head of Amazon Studios, who helped her obtain equal pay with her male co-star.

Priyanka shared: ‘In my 23-year career, it’s the first time I got parity, and that happened, I think, because the head executive of Amazon Studios is a female… When we have females in positions of power and positions of decision-making, they make space for other females.’

It comes as Priyanka opened up about family life during an appearance on The Today show on Thursday.

Duty; Priyanka says she now understands a mother’s fierce duty to protect her children and is trying to emulate the childhood she had, surrounded by people who loved her

Her love: Elsewhere in the interview, Priyanka talks about her marriage to Nick and how they juggle their careers with being a family (pictured together)

Team: ‘When you really care about someone, you try to alleviate whatever pressure is on them by doing some of the chores or by taking on something that they always do

Speaking on the show, Priyanka revealed that her 15-month-old daughter Malti, who she shares with husband Nick, was also in attendance.

‘She is here with me, my mum and her are both travelling with us right now because I’m on tour, my husband is on tour,’ the actress confirmed.

‘Family time is the most important, I didn’t do that in my twenties, I ran so hard but when you have a home and you’ve built a home and you appreciate it.

‘It makes you feel like you want to go to work and do your best then you need to make time for it.

‘It’s magical and it’s healing. I feel great when I leave for work in the morning because I’ve had that time.’