He’s been in the Land of the Rising Sun as of late promoting his film “17 Again,” and earlier today (May 16) Zac Efron got a real dose of fan love.

The “High School Musical” stud held an exclusive screening of the movie for two hundred lucky fans at the Shinjuku Piccadilly cinema in Tokyo, greeting the crowd with a short address beforehand.

And after the screening was over, Efron waved to the massive crowd of fans that were waiting outside who weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket to the event.

However, Efron’s security was forced to rush him to a waiting car as the crowd broke through barriers in an attempt to rush Zac and get his autograph.

To the suprise of absolutely no one, Zac Efron has been exposed as a closet-case – although not quite the kind you had in mind.

Tattles close to the 17 Again cutie tell The National Enquirer that the dashing young actor is harboring a secret fixation with cancer sticks that he is desperate to keep out of the public eye.

The Enquirer claims: The teen heartthrob enjoys an occasional smoke, but he’s super-conscious of his young, impressionable fans and doesn’t want to send the wrong message, so he sne-e-e-eaks – smoking behind closed doors only, or in the privacy of his home.

Actor Zac Efron and the cast of the upcoming feature 17 Again have teamed up with a few of Hollywood’s hottest celebs for a hilarious new video short masterminded by the comics at FunnyOrDie.com.

Brody Jenner, Joel Madden, Queen Latifah, Justin Long, Nicole Richie, Vanessa Hudgens, Carmen Electra, Brittany Snow, and Lance Bass will all take part in a “pool party from hell” when the viral short debuts online Wednesday.

The "High School Musical" actor – who is dating his co-star Vanessa Hudgens – says it is important for adults to be enthusiastic when discussing sex and contraception with their children.

Speaking about his talk with his father David Efron, Zac said: "I just feel like my dad, at one point, had that conversation with me and my little brother, and always delivered it very well. He was very passionate about it."

The 21-year-old hunk recently admitted his mother Starla is not quite so relaxed about addressing his sex life and was upset when she saw a photograph of him and Vanessa apparently leaving a sex toy shop.

He explained: "My mom is like, ‘Zac, what did you buy in a sex shop?’ I was like, ‘Mom, calm down, it’s not a sex shop.’ She wouldn’t have any of it."

"She’s like, ‘I knew you were being sexual!’ But she understood. My stocking was full of condoms this Christmas. She buys me the economy box."

Apparently,  isn’t feeling the music these days.

The High School Musical hunk tells EW.com that he backed out of the upcoming remake of the 1984 Kevin Bacon classic Footloose because he doesn’t want to be typecast as a song-and-dance man.

"I’m sure Footloose would have been a huge challenge," Efron offered while in Las Vegas to accept the ShoWest Breakthrough Performer of the Year award on Thursday, "but the actors that I love and the actors that work really hard in this industry are always shaking things up, trying new genres, acquiring new skill sets. That’s what’s always going to appeal to me: the unknown."

Efron, who had been attached to the project for a year and a half, announced that he was bowing out of it late last month. Since then, Gossip Girl hottie Chace Crawford has been mentioned as a possible replacement.

And if that doesn’t work out, maybe Efron’s new wax replica can step into the role. From the looks of the thing, it could really use some work.

t seems that Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens have a power couple they look up to. They adore the Beckhams.

Efron explained how he “loves” the soccer celeb’s fashion sense. But when it comes to being compared to the couple with girlfriend Hudgens, he finds it silly.

The “17 Again” star says, “Vanessa and I would love to be like the US David and Victoria Beckham. It’s funny when we’re compared to them, I just can’t believe it. I totally love the way David dresses.”

And when it comes to the 21-year-old’s work, he’s still going strong. Efron is starring in the upcoming film, “The Death & Life of Charlie St Cloud.” The movie is about a cemetery caretaker who is able to talk with his dead younger brother.

About the film, Efron says, “It sounds very grim, but it’s a fantastic story. It’s a little bit more grown-up. It deals with some heavy material.”

Sorry to disappoint you Zac Efron fans, but it looks like he will not be partaking in the remake of the 80’s hit, “Footloose.”

The updated version was planned to be directed by Kenny Ortega, who directed Zac in all three “High School Musical” productions, but recently, a source tells ET that the tween heartthrob has decided to pull out of the film.

While it looks like the film is still in production, the new “Ren McCormack” is yet to be revealed.

There’s still no word on whether the targeted 2010 release date is still intact, either.

The Hollywood Hottie Meter is kicking into overdrive in the wake of rumors that hunky heartthrobs Robert Pattinson, Zac Efron, and Justin Timberlake are each being courted for major roles in Ohio, an upcoming film based on the 1970 murders of anti-Vietnam War protesters at Kent State University.

But if you’re expecting a major Bromance to break out behind the scenes, don’t hold your breath. Star Magazine claims Justin, 28, and former High School Musical star Zac Efron, 21, feel that they are bigger names than big screen newcomer Robert, who skyrocketed to stardom after getting his big break in the hit 2008 vampire epic Twilight. Both Zac and J.T. are unnerved that Rob’s been offered first stab at Ohio’s lead role, according to a squealing tabloid spy.

“Everyone in the industry is shocked that Rob is already getting such big roles,” says an insider.

“Zac and Justin have been working for a lot longer than he has. There is a bit of jealousy there.”

“Zac’s people want him to have the lead. And Justin’s people have asked that he get a lot of screen time.”