Former One Direction member Zayn Malik drops a bombshell about the band

Zayn Malik has revealed he never really wanted to be part of One Direction. Photo / Getty

Zayn Malik has revealed he thought about leaving One Direction "from the beginning".

The 22-year-old pop star also denied rumours he split up with Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards via text message.

Malik shocked fans when he quit the boy band earlier this year, saying he wanted to be a "normal 22-year-old" before vowing to show fans "who I really am" with his own music.

In an interview with British newspaper The Sun, he said of his five-year stint with the band: "I just wanted to go home from the beginning. I was always thinking it. I just didn't know when I was going to do it."

He also said 1D's songs were "not music I would listen to" and revealed he had only spoken to ex-bandmate Liam Payne since his departure, hinting the pair could collaborate in the future.

Malik had previously remained quiet on the break-up of his relationship with Edwards, 22, who last month called Malik a "bell-end" and hinted that the break-up inspired Little Mix's single Hair.

But he hit back at reports that he ended their engagement by text.

He told the paper: "I love her a lot and I always will, and I would never end our relationship over four years like that.

"She knows that, I know that, and the public should know as well. I don't want to explain why or what I did, I just want the public to know I didn't do that."

While Malik signed a solo recording contract with RCA Records, One Direction have announced they are to take a hiatus from March next year.

The band said they would be taking a "break" in August and Payne accidentally revealed on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge last week that it could last two years.

-AAP