The finale of Lioness Season 3 brought a crushing reveal about Zoe Saldaña’s character Joe McNamara being abducted, but it also ended with a tribute to someone who worked behind the scenes on the Taylor Sheridan show. The episode closed with a card reading: “This episode is dedicated to the memory of Rajeev Malhotra with the deepest appreciation for his tireless commitment and unwavering support.” It added: “You will be missed, my friend.”
Viewers were left wondering who Rajeev Malhotra was and why the show was honouring him. The answer came quickly. Malhotra was a producer on Lioness, working on the second and third seasons of the Paramount+ series. He died in hospital, surrounded by his loved ones.
Malhotra’s Death and Hospital Stay
According to a GoFundMe campaign set up on behalf of his long-term partner, Catherine Jordan, Malhotra passed away peacefully on July 28 at 1:17pm at Cedars Sinai Cardiac ICU. The description confirmed: “Rajeev passed peacefully on July 28 at 1:17pm at Cedars Sinai Cardiac ICU, surrounded by his father who is 94, his brother, his nephew, two cousins, Catherine, and Chad Galster.”
Chad Galster, an editor who worked on Lioness, was one of more than 20 co-workers who visited Malhotra in hospital. Producer and cartoonist David Derks offered a fuller account of what happened on Instagram. “From what I was told, he became very ill last week but, true to his character, he pushed through one of the relentless production schedules that television demands to make sure episodes were delivered,” Derks wrote. “After going to Cedars-Sinai, doctors discovered he had suffered a heart attack. A few days later, he was gone.”
The sequence of events is grim but clear. Malhotra fell ill during a demanding production stretch, went to the hospital, suffered a heart attack, and died a few days later. His family — including his 94-year-old father — were by his side throughout.
Sheridan Shows Malhotra Worked On
Rajeev Malhotra’s career spanned several of Taylor Sheridan’s most prominent projects. His association with Sheridan began in the second season of Yellowstone, where he served as an associate producer on the episode “Sins of the Father.” That episode made TVLine’s ranking of the best-ever Yellowstone episodes.
He held the associate producer role throughout Yellowstone‘s Season 3, became a co-producer for Season 4, and was ultimately credited as a producer on Season 5. During that time, Malhotra expanded his work to other Sheridan shows.
He started on the Yellowstone prequel series 1883 and then the follow-up 1923. He began producing both Lioness and Landman in 2024. His final collaboration with Sheridan was in 2026, with Malhotra serving as a producer on the Michelle Pfeiffer-led miniseries The Madison.
Tributes From Co-Workers
Those who worked with Malhotra on Sheridan’s shows paid their own personal tributes to him on social media. Editor Abe Kurien posted a note on Instagram that spoke directly to Malhotra’s influence.
“I wish I had one more chance to say thank you for hiring me and trusting me to work on the Yellowstone TV show back in 2020 and the continued opportunity to be a part of the Yellowstone Family with the other shows we worked on together,” Kurien wrote. “You taught me so much and I hope that I can take the knowledge you gave me to carry on your legacy. Thank you again my friend!”
Kurien’s message captures the warmth of Malhotra’s reputation among his colleagues. He was someone who hired people and gave them opportunities across multiple Sheridan productions.
The Final Episode’s Acknowledgment
The tribute card at the end of the Lioness finale was a public acknowledgment of Malhotra’s death. It named him directly and offered a simple, sincere message of appreciation.
The card’s language — “tireless commitment and unwavering support” — speaks to the kind of professional Malhotra was. He was someone who kept going even when the work demanded it.
Timeline of Malhotra’s Career With Sheridan
| Show/Role | Role on Show | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone | Associate producer (“Sins of the Father”) | Second season |
| Yellowstone | Associate producer | Season 3 |
| Yellowstone | Co-producer | Season 4 |
| Yellowstone | Producer | Season 5 |
| 1883 | Producer | N/A |
| 1923 | Producer | N/A |
| Lioness | Producer | Seasons 2 and 3 |
| Landman | Producer | 2024 |
| The Madison | Producer | 2026 |
The timeline shows a steady rise through Sheridan’s expanding slate. Malhotra moved from associate producer on a single episode to full producer credits across multiple shows.
What Malhotra’s Career Represented
Malhotra’s career was defined by his dedication to Sheridan’s projects. He worked on some of the biggest shows in television, and he did so with a spirit that his colleagues described fondly.
The tribute card at the end of the episode was a small but powerful moment. It recognised that the people building a show matter as much as the characters on screen.
His death is a loss for the industry. But the fact that so many people took the time to say goodbye shows how much he meant to them.
Source material: “Lioness Season 3's Rajeev Malhotra Tribute Explained,” TVLine.
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