Zayn Malik makes emotional comeback: 'I didn’t expect this'

Zayn Malik has confessed he’s genuinely shocked that fans are still riding for him more than ten years after he walked away from One Direction.

The 33-year-old star famously quit the chart-topping boyband in 2015, leaving Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and the late Liam Payne behind to carve out his own path. 

Now, with his fifth solo record on the way, Zayn admits he never expected his career to stretch this far.

Speaking on a recent podcast appearance, the Dusk Till Dawn singer said he’s amazed that listeners have stuck with him since his departure. 

He revealed he already felt lucky being able to release one album on his own, never mind five, and says watching his growth as an artist has been the most rewarding part of the journey.

His new album, Konnakol, lands on April 17, 2026, featuring 15 tracks. 

What Makes You Beautiful hitmaker has described it as his most culturally rooted project yet, drawing inspiration from his South Asian background. 

It’s worth noting that the title references a vocal percussion style from South Indian classical music, which he blends with his signature pop and R’n’B sound.

Fans recently got a sneak peek during his Las Vegas residency, where he performed fresh material alongside a surprise rendition of a fan-favourite track he’d never sung live before. 

One new song even features Urdu lyrics, a heartfelt nod to his heritage.

RELATED: Zayn Malik clarifies harsh comments on Gigi Hadid romance amid six years