Malhar Rao grew up in Taloda (Nandurbar District, Maharashtra) in the castle of his maternal uncle, Sardar Bhojrajrao Bargal.

[2] He married Gautama Bai Holkar (nee' Bargal) (d. 29 September 1761), his maternal uncle's(Mama) daughter, in 1717.

This Khanda Rani status stems from the fact that she was a princess, he had sent his sword (khaandaa in Marathi) to represent him at the wedding, to maintain appearances.

When the Mughal Emperor learned that Ahmed Shah Abdali had attacked Punjab in December 1751, he asked Safdarjung to make peace with Rohillas and Bangash.

Meanwhile, the Peshwa asked Malhar Rao Holkar to return to Pune as Salabat Khan had attacked the city.

At this moment, Maharaja Suraj Mal was counseled by Maharani Kishori, who assured him not to worry and started diplomatic efforts.

[4] Ghazi ud-Din Khan Feroze Jung III, aided by the Marathas led by Malhar Rao Holkar, defeated Safdarjung.

[5] Malhar Rao Holkar, Raghunathrao, Shamsher Bahadur, Gangadhar Tatya, Sakharambapu, Naroshankar and Maujiram Bania attacked Delhi on 11 August 1757 and defeated Najib-ul-Daula and Ahmed Khan became the Mir Bakshi in his place.

Malhar Rao Holkar was defeated decisively by the cavalry of the Durrani Empire led by Jahan Khan at the Second Battle of Sikandarabad (1760).

He tried guerrilla warfare after the defeat and death of Dattaji Shinde and achieved some success with his dream of capturing Delhi under his rule coming true.

Some sources also state that Sadashivrao's advisors asked him to not pay any heed to Malhar Rao's advice's as he didn't want Bhau to cross Central India and see how he and other Sardars mishandled the situation.

He organized many raids against the Afghans and showed immense bravery, killing thousands of Durrani and Rohilla soldiers.

He decisively defeated the Rajputs at the Battle of Mangrol and played a pivotal role in the resurrection of the Maratha power in Central India.

His only son Khanderao Holkar had already died in 1754 during the siege of Kumher Fort against the Jat Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur State.

[8][9][10] His daughter-in-law Ahilya Bai Holkar built his samadhi Chhatri, at the spot of his cremation, at Alampur of Lahar in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh state.