High School Musical director Kenny Ortega never planned for Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens to play onscreen lovers - but he couldn't keep the pair apart.

Ortega admits he never envisaged the pair - who are real life lovers - taking on the roles as Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez in his movie musical franchise, but was overwhelmed by their instant chemistry.

He says, "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."

Efron adds, "We were the first ones to be paired up together in rehearsals and it pretty much stayed that way through all the auditions."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)