MUMBAI: Former One Direction star Zayn Malik, who thinks about 'alternative realities', says he would have been at a university had he not become a singer.

E! News was given an exclusive first look at the singer on the cover of VMAN 38.

Malik, 24, admitted to the magazine that he's been curious about what his life might have looked like had he not become a member of the One Direction band, reports eonline.com.

"I think about alternative realities. I think I'd be at university and I would have done my English degree. I think I'd be looking for some employment to do with English lecturing or literature," he said.

"I love poetry and writing...obviously, I'm a songwriter-so, it would've been something that would still give me the feeling of a creative outlet within my writing," he added.

Malik quit One Direction in 2015 and released his debut solo album a year later.

(Source: IANS)