One day you wake-up a Muslim and the next you are told you are actually born Jewish.

Written by David Baddiel and starring Omid Djalili, ‘The Infidel’ is not really about religion at all but more about how each culture percieves the other.

And in the present climate of fear and ignorance it seems David and Omid may have done more for the Muslim religion in Britain in one movie than any politician could ever do in year of speeches. The Infidel is a breadth of fresh air and features a Muslim character in a main role - and guess what he isn't a terrorist!.

“We had a screening with some Muslim women in hijabs recently and the first thing they said to me afterwards was how they were happy that the movie featured an ordinary Muslim family.” says David.

There is no intention to offend anyone and David says he was inspired by the ‘body-swap’ movies of old like Trading Places.

“I don’t think it could have been made twenty years ago because I don’t think the two communities were seen to be so polarised.

“But the movie is about how two cultures and religions are not opposite and not polarised. But they have many things in common and many similarities.

“I don’t think people will find it offensive. There is more about a body swap type of movie of which I was always a fan of. The film is essentially about people and how cultures can clash.

“I think material becomes offensive when you are blasphemous. This isn’t blasphemous and is a light-hearted look at tensions.

“Yes, it is edgy and a comedy like this would have be edgy in general. There is one part in the film where Omid’s character finds out he is Jewish gets into an argument and comes out with some anti-semetic remarks.”

Omid said, “It all depends what you define as close to the edge? I think we got the right balance and it was important to look at what message we wanted to portray.

“Personally I think it is edgy but not offensive.”

The story revolves around Mahmud a family guy who one day finds out he was not born a Muslim. He enlists the help of a drunken Jewish cabbie played by the excellent Richard Schiff.

Omid said he enjoyed playing the confused Pakistani man on a mission and doing his own stunts.

“I learnt a lot about different Jewish ceremonies. But I think Jewish culture is quite prevalent in western society and in the media whereas Muslim culture isn’t. So I knew a fair bit about Jewish culture through what I had seen.

“I wasn’t quite sure if I could pass as Pakistani though! But then I have a that look about me that I can mistaken for anyone.

“I quite enjoyed doing my own stunts one of the best moments for me was where I get hit by a taxi. I am proud to say we did it in one take”

David got some tips from a lady who knows a thing or two about being Pakistani - Shazia Mirza. And says Omid was perfect for the role of Mahmud.

“When I was writing the film I had Omid in mind. He has an incredibly funny bored bloke look about him. I don’t think there was anyone else who could have played Mahud so well.”

And would Omid sit in the front row of the cinema if the film ever gets played in Tehran?

“Yes without a doubt. I think they might need someone to transalate some parts and I could do that.”

The Infidel is in Cinema’s on April 9.

Ten Question with Omid Djalili in the next issue of Asian Image.