The chances are most millennials will be able to remember a time when they were obsessed with High School Musical. The television musical, which aired on Disney Channel in 2006, became a pop culture phenomenon and launched its young stars to global fame almost instantly.

Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, who were on-screen lovers in the film, even started dating in real life soon after, cementing their status as one of the most popular couples in Hollywood.

To this day, High School Musical remains one of Zac Efron’s highest-grossing musicals. There’s no doubt that appearing in the film and its sequels changed Efron’s career and opened him up to new opportunities. However, that doesn’t mean that the star looks back fondly on his time as Troy Bolton.

Opening up to Men’s Fitness, Efron delivered some home truths about his real thoughts on having starred in the franchise.

Zac Efron Led ‘High School Musical’

The first installment of the mega-popular High School Musical franchise was released in 2006. Starring the then-unknown Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale, the television musical is often thought of as a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

RELATED: Zac Efron Called This His Worst On-Set Kissing Scene

Troy Bolton, a high school basketball player, and Gabriella Montez, a transfer student with a talent for math and science, find common ground when they are both cast in the high school musical.

Some critics have also compared the film to Grease, since it involves two high school students from rival cliques who fall in love, much to the dismay of their classmates.

Zac Efron’s Role In ‘High School Musical’

Zac Efron became a teen heartthrob when he won the role of Troy Bolton in High School Musical. His real-life relationship with Vanessa Hudgens, who portrayed his on-screen love interest Gabriella, also helped to turn both Efron and Hudgens into two of the most popular young stars in Hollywood.

Although Efron had been acting throughout the 2000s, it wasn’t until 2006 that he made his big break and gained recognition amongst teenage audiences. Starring in High School Musical changed the actor’s life, but does he regret it?

Did Zac Efron Regret Starring In ‘High School Musical’

In a confession that will break millennial hearts all over the world, Zac Efron reportedly told Men’s Fitness that he does regret starring in the franchise. According to Nova F.M., he “wishes he could go back in time and tell his teenage-self not to do it.”

RELATED: Zac Efron Got Caught 'Sneaking a Peek' With This Actress

“I step back and look at myself and I still want to kick that guy’s a** sometimes,” he said of himself in the film. “Like, f*** that guy. He’s done some kind of cool things with some people—he did that one thing that was funny, but I mean he’s still just that f****** kid from High School Musical.”

Why Did Zac Efron Regret Starring In The Franchise?

Elaborating on his feelings, Efron revealed that starring in the franchise just wasn’t what he wanted to be doing at the time.

The star revealed to Men’s Fitness that he knew once he had completed one High School Musical movie that the films weren’t right for him. "I was, like, 17. And I said, ‘Guys, you know this is not at all what I want to do?’ And they were like, ‘Really?’”

Despite his true feelings about starring in the franchise, Efron stuck with it and reprised his role for High School Musical 2, and High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

Zac Efron Took The World By Storm

After Efron was catapulted to fame, he appeared in a few other films that were super-popular amongst teen audiences. In 2007, he appeared in another musical film, Hairspray, then later starred in 17 Again, alongside Mathew Perry, and Charlie St. Cloud.

RELATED: What Really Happened To Zac Efron's Face?

At the height of his teen heartthrob status, Efron was an idol to teenagers all around the world. Even celebrities have admitted that they were majorly crushing on the High School Musical star.

At the GQ Man of the Year party in 2008, Megan Fox gave an interview on the red carpet and was told Zac Efron was attending the event. She confessed that she was obsessed with him at the time, adding, ““He’s here? What you don’t know is Zac Efron and I are the same person.”

Some fans believe that she was joking, but if Fox really did have a crush on Efron at the time, she wouldn’t have been the only one!

What Has Zac Efron Done Since ‘High School Musical’

Zac Efron has appeared in several other projects since his High School Musical days. In particular, he’s starred in a few films that have worked to help dismantle his teenage heartthrob image, including Neighbors in 2014 and 2015’s Dirty Grandpa (along with many other celebrities!).

In 2019, Efron starred in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, as the serial killer Ted Bundy.

NEXT: Is Zac Efron Actually Close With His Brother And Sister?