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'Zayn's a nice guy': Neelam Gill gushes over 1D's Malik in interview footage captured five months before romance rumours surfaced

Published: 19:32 EST, 3 September 2015 | Updated: 08:31 EST, 4 September 2015

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They're said to have met and hit it off earlier this year, but it seems Neelam Gill was talking about Zayn Malik long before rumours of a romance surfaced.

Captured in an interview for On Demand News from April as she arrived for The Asian Awards in London, the 19-year-old Burberry model admits she thinks Zayn is 'a nice guy' and that he was right to leave One Direction.

Neelam appeared to drop hints that they already knew each other well and that they have plenty in common, as many as five months ago.

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Closer than we thought? Neelam Gill, spotted leaving Liberty London on Thursday, is seen talking about Zayn Malik in early interview footage from April

Their connection was revealed by MailOnline last week when a source claimed that Zayn was 'smitten' with the beauty, after they met in London in March.

But turning up to the same event in April, Neelam said of the star: 'Zayn's a nice guy, I'm happy he's being honoured tonight and I think it will be a great night.'

Sharing his bitter-sweet feelings for 1D in the wake of his departure the previous month, Neelam openly admits that she's not a fan of the band.

Nice guy: The model said she thought Zayn was a 'nice guy' when they arrived for the same event in April

Good match: Though they weren't pictured together, they were thought to have already known each other for a month when they were at the same event

She is then heard being asked whether she thinks Zayn was right to go solo, which he said at the time was down to a desire to lead a 'normal' life.

'Honestly I really respect his decision,' she said. 'I can relate to him because we've both been thrown into the industry and I can only imagine how crazy it's been for him. As long as he's happy, I respect that.'

On his solo ventures, Neelam continued: 'Whatever he does I'm sure he'll be successful, he's really talented and he's a good guy.'

While Neelam, who was the face of last year's Burberry Prorsum campaign, and Zayn first met at a studio in London in March, it's claimed nothing happened between them as he was still Little Mix singer Perrie.

They later bumped into each other at the Asian Awards where Zayn picked up an award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, but again nothing happened as he was still engaged.

After news broke this week, Neelam was turning a fair few more heads on Thursday than she would have done a week ago, as she stepped out for a beauty launch at Liberty London.

Keeping it casual: The brunette is the latest lady to be linked to former One Direction heartthrob Zayn Malik

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Said to be just back from seeing her love interest in Los Angeles, the starlet was easy breezy in a plain white T-shirt and leather trousers as she carried a Liberty haul out of the store.

There was no question that she's an emerging catwalk queen as her steely, stone cold pout was in place as she made long strides out; selling every inch of her ensemble with fervour.

She elongated her 5ft 10in frame with lace up heeled boots and fought off the chill with a light ash grey coat.

It was reported just last weekend that former One Direction star Zayn is 'smitten' with the model, after they met in the UK a few weeks ago.

She's thought to have made a fleeting trip to LA - where Zayn is recording his solo album - on Sunday, since she was captured at Heathrow Airport catching an outbound flight.

Building her profile: The model is said to be very career focused and her union with Zayn is staying very under wraps for that reason, sources say

Unconfirmed: Neelam was seen heading to the airport on Sunday, where it's thought to she was flying to see Zayn in LA

Gill, who was also known as Neelam Johal before taking her stepfather's name, took to Twitter to post about LA on Saturday, writing: 'to live and die in LA, it's the place to be...'

But the model is also carving out her international modelling career; putting her face to a new eyebrow beauty product for which she needed to be back in the UK to launch on Thursday.

On her Instagram page, she wrote to her now 40k followers: 'Successful launch at #Liberty! Thank you for believing in me and allowing me to create my own product!

'Seeing it come to life today was definitely one of my career highlights so far! Can't wait for you guys to see what we have in store...'

Splashing the cash: The Burberry model was pictured doing some serious shopping

Speaking about her very secret connection to Zayn, a source told MailOnline exclusively this week: 'Neelam doesn't know if she wants all of the drama that comes with dating someone in the public eye.

'She is going to LA to spend some time with Zayn and see how things go from there. She is serious about her career and doesn't want anything to get in the way of that but she has hit it off with Zayn.

'Don't expect them to be spotted out in public together though, both are eager to keep their connection a secret for now.'

Though neither Neelam, nor Zayn have confirmed the romance, he is known to have broken off his long-term engagement with Perrie in July.