A deaf man was moved to tears after learning that his neighbourhood had learned sign language just for him to promote the heartwarming message: 'A world without barriers is our dream'.

Muharrem was unwittingly placed at the centre of an elaborate stunt in which he was secretly filmed encountering a host of strangers in a series of staged meetings through Istanbul.

The footage begins with him setting out for the day with his sister Ozlem, who is in on the set-up.

Before long, Muharrem is taken aback when he encounters a stranger who signs 'good morning' to him.

Deaf man Muharrem sets out for the day with his sister unaware he is being filmed for an advert in which he will encounter a host of strangers who have learned sign language so they can communicate with him

Before long, Muharrem is taken aback when he encounters a stranger who signs 'good morning' to him. The stunt, which took a month to prepare, saw the volunteers learn sign language phrases for their chosen roles

On a visit to his food store in Istanbul, the shopkeeper unexpectedly advertises his wares with hand signals

His surprise only intensifies when, on a visit to his local food store, the shopkeeper offers him 'hot bagels' through hand signals.

Another encounter involves a stranger dropping a bag of fruit.

When Muharrem helps pick them up, the man uses sign language to offer him an apple as a thank you.

He barely has time to take it in when a woman bumps into him accidentally on purpose before signing: 'Sorry, my mistake.'

Later, the shock is clear on Muharrem's face when a taxi driver welcomes him into the car with sign language.

Another set-up involves a stranger dropping a bag of fruit. When Muharrem helps pick them up, the man uses sign language to offer him an apple as a thank you, much to Muharrem's surprise

A woman apolosies with sign language after bumping into Muharrem accidentally on purpose in the street

The shock is clear on Muharrem's face when a taxi driver welcomes him into the car with sign language

In a final flourish, Samsung, which organised the commercial, arranges for an electronic advertising board to communicate with him, offering the heartwarming message: 'A world without barriers is our dream as well'

In a final flourish, an electronic advertising board is set up to communicate with him, offering him heartwarming message: 'Because a world without barriers is our dream as well.'

A friend finally points out one of the dozens of cameras set up around the area to reveal the stunt, moving Muharrem to tears.

The stunt, which took a month to prepare, was organised by mobile phone company Samsung to promote its call centre for the hearing impaired.

The video has been viewed more than three million times over just the last few days since being posted on YouTube.

A friend finally points out one the dozens of cameras as the entire stunt is revealed, moving him to tears