One Direction’s Zayn Malik to marry

LONDON - The future mother-in-law of One Direction’s Zayn Malik has spoken of her excitement at the impending marriage of the teen pop star to his singer girlfriend, even as several cinemas in Britain disclosed that screenings of the band’s new film, This Is Us, have already sold out a week ahead of its release on Aug 29.

Confirmation of Malik’s engagement to Perrie Edwards came after fans spotted the Little Mix singer wearing a three-stone diamond ring at the premiere of the film in London on Tuesday night. Her mother Debbie Dufty said she was “over the moon” and described the couple as “really in love”.

It is estimated the film could take £120 million (S$240 million) at the box office, with thousands of teenage girls predicted to flood cinemas across the country. Speaking from her home in Weymouth, Dorset, Dufty said: “It’s official. I’m over the moon. They are really in love.”

She said no date had yet been fixed for the wedding and that Perrie was thrilled but had wanted to wait until after the premier to make the engagement official. Nevertheless, she arrived at the event in a floor length black gown with an embellished and nude bodice and was photographed with the sparkly ring on show.

It is thought that Malik, 20, got down on one knee and proposed to Perrie, also 20, over the last weekend. The couple’s relationship began on set of X Factor in December 2011 when Perrie was competing for the winning spot with her girl group. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH