Who would have thought that the next big name in the world of celebrities could be a skinny, doe-eyed Muslim from Cape Town's southern suburbs. My guess is that Riaad Moosa might just be that name.

Material, a delightful local film set in Johannesburg, opens at cinemas countrywide today and it is expected the world will fall in love with it, and more so with its star, Moosa, who is South Africa's "laughing doctor".

The young, married father of two small children is not an unknown entity. A non-practising medical doctor, Moosa is a well-respected stand-up comic. According to one of the producers of the film, Ronnie Apteker, the local funny man was the inspiration for the movie.

Moosa plays the lead character, Cassim Kaif, who lives with his Muslim family in a Fordsburg flat. He is a good son, helping his devout father in his fabric shop, which he is expected to take over. But one evening he discovers his talent and love for open-mic comedy sessions in late-night drinking bars.

Once he discovers this, Cassim leaves home whenever he can to perform without his parents' knowledge. The clash of cultures and different world views is explored when his family discovers he performs in drinking holes.

Although his own life and love of comedy apparently inspired the film, Moosa insists: "It's not my narrative at all. But the conflict situations, the scenes where the worlds collide and the difficulties my character experiences stem from personal experiences that have been dramatised. I didn't get resistance from my family. My parents were very supportive.

"But I got resistance from the community. Muslims are very communitarian."

Moosa describes how the movie turns from comedy to an intense family drama.

"After about an hour, it takes this dramatic turn. It becomes very powerful. But in terms of time spent, more time was spent on the comedy but the dramatic elements are so powerful they take over."

In his own life, Moosa has found a balance that reconciles his personal life with his career.

"Life is about moderation. You can't give yourself up to enjoyment completely. Most things need to be done in moderation. Religion formalises this, but to me it is just common sense," he says.

"Laughter is good for your health. People who laugh a lot live longer. But if you only seek enjoyment, others will suffer."

The making of the film was a team effort, he says modestly.

"I may have come with my little parts, but director and writer Craig Freimond generally built the house. He worked out the dramatic arc," he says.

"There were moments when we thought we were at a dead end. Then there were moments of clarity. Epiphanies of sorts."

One of these moments was when Freimond asked Moosa what was the most frequently asked question about his life as a comedian.

Not surprisingly, Moosa's response was: "I always get asked where I get my material from. And then I always say, from the Oriental Plaza - where you get great deals."

Craig took a beat and said: "Why don't we call the movie Material?"

And that was it.

But when I ask - imagining a set of actors constantly in stitches - if he had fun making the movie, he said no: "I didn't even think of having fun. I was so busy."

Untouched yet by fame, I wonder how he will respond to becoming a really big name.

"This fame stuff isn't real. I am very private. I love writing my jokes. I'll do interviews but only about my work. I won't just do an interview for the sake of an interview with my dog and family. I don't have a dog. But these guys will bring a dog, and take a photo of me with a cardigan over my shoulder. It will look like a Markham's ad," he says.

That's not to say he isn't appreciative: "It's awesome to be recognised for hard work. But Mel Miller taught me early on that if good things are said, don't let it go to your head, and if horrible things are said, don't let it go to your heart."

• 'Material' opens at cinemas today