Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens weren’t meant to be together in HSM

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens‘ characters were meant to end up together in the High School Musical series - but director Kenny Ortega just couldn’t keep them apart.

The third movie in the series High School Musical 3: Senior Year had its European premiere in London’s Leicester Square last night, with British fans packed around the red carpet to welcome Zac & Vanessa, and other co-stars Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and newcomer Jemma McKenzie-Brown to the UK.

But director Kenny explained that the series might have been very different for their characters Troy and Gabriella: “We tried to separate them and try them with other partners but it didn’t work. The magic was already there between them.

“Life imitates art. When Zac and Vanessa first auditioned for me they didn’t know each other. But the chemistry those two kids share was just there. It has always been there.”

Zac added: “We were the first ones to be paired up together in rehearsals and it pretty much stayed that way through all the auditions.”

The off-screen couple had their first on-screen kiss at the end of High School Musical 2 and their relationship will develop further in the forthcoming instalment: “I’ve always admired that about them, it builds up the tension and finally in High School Musical 3 it feels well deserved. It’s about time - we’re seniors, we’re adults.”

But that’s not to say it’ll develop too far. Vanessa, who was involved in a nude photo scandal a year ago, added: “[Troy and Gabriella’s relationship] just shows their respect for each other - it’s a really sweet and innocent love that doesn’t need everything else.”

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