Harry Styles has revealed that he and his fellow One Direction bandmates had no idea that Zayn Malik was unhappy during his time in the band before his departure.

Zayn chose to quit the group in March 2015 while they were performing on their On The Road Again tour, claiming that he wanted to live as a ‘normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight.’

However, Harry has since admitted that because he and his bandmates were so busy with their tour, they were unaware of the now 26-year-old’s true feelings, while also stating that it was ‘sad’ to see his former bandmate leave.

Speaking to Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Beats 1 Radio, he said: ‘It was kind of like we were sad, obviously, that someone had left, but also sad that he was enjoying it so much that he had to leave.

‘Because I think at the time too, the tour and everything was going so well and everyone had kind of got to this place where everyone was kind of living in a way where they felt pretty good. It felt like everyone was kind of enjoying it.

‘I’d say a big part of it [Zayn leaving] was us kind of being like, “Wow.” You didn’t realise he wasn’t enjoying it that much.’

He then admitted that it would have been unfair for him to carry on in the group if he did not want to continue to make music with them.

‘Why would you want an artist to make stuff for you when they don’t want to make it?’ he questioned.

Liam Payne also recently revealed that he does not think Zayn should be a part of a One Direction reunion if it ever happens (Picture: FilmMagic)

It comes after fellow One Direction member Liam Payne recently said he does not believe that Zayn should be involved in a 1D reunion.

When asked by Jonathan Ross on his talkshow if Zayn would ever rejoin the boyband again, Liam replied: ‘No, I don’t think that’ll ever happen.

‘When he left, it wasn’t on great terms so I don’t feel like it’s a thing. If he didn’t want to be here, he shouldn’t be here, which is fine.’

Harry also seemed to throw some shade at Zayn during a recent appearance on Saturday Night Live.

In his opening monologue, he said: ‘I don’t know if you heard or not, I’m not in a boyband anymore. I’m in a man band now.

I was in a band called One Direction, how crazy would it be if they were here tonight? Well, they’re not. Wouldn’t it be crazy if they were though? They’re not.

‘I love those guys, they’re my brothers.  Niall, Liam, Louis… and Ringo. Yeah, that’s it.’