Djalili Warned Over Religious Comedy

The Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End star plays a Muslim who discovers he was adopted and is really Jewish in the new movie, which also stars West Wing actor Richard Schiff.

The controversial subject matter has resulted in censors blocking the film in a number of Middle Eastern countries, and Djalili has been warned he could be targeted for making light of religion - but the star insists critics have just misunderstood the film's comedy.

He tells WENN, "The Iranian press said, 'We love the movie and we love you, but we're really worried, you're going to get yourself into trouble. Why do you say those things? You made fun of Islam.'

"When I went through it with him, he had misunderstood all the jokes. It happens all the time with comedy. A lot of people are not comedy literate. You have to be au fait with the language of comedy."