Friendships get professional with Jean Reno water venture

When you think of clean, refreshing bottled water from Hawaii, does the French actor Jean Reno come to mind? Well, get used to the idea.

The man who gained fame as Leon the Professional is in town this week to kick-start a new venture with local businessman Mahesh Harilela (pictured with Reno). The two are among the partners in Hawaiian Springs water, launched at the W Hotel on Tuesday with media interviews and a Q&A session in the hotel's Living Room bar.

If the two seem an unlikely match, it's because there were a few degrees of separation between them. Asked how he entered the water business, Reno replied succinctly: 'It's because of friendships, that's all.' Reno was a long-time friend of another Frenchman who was a long-time friend of Harilela, who discovered the brand in a convenience store in Japan. After the two were introduced, the idea snowballed. 'The vibe was good, so we continued talking.'

What the jet-lagged actor didn't really want to discuss was his movie career. 'The water is the story, not me. This water is pure and with good qualities. I have five kids. [Their health] is something that I care about most. My wife is breastfeeding my newborn child and she is always concerned about what he is going to eat and drink.'