The India-born, Indonesia-raised and Iowa-educated Dhananjay was first discovered by Patti Cake$ director Geremy Jasper on World Star Hip Hop where his parody rap videos were posted under his pseudonym Dhananjay the First. The Sundance comedy, which sold to Fox Searchlight for $9.5 million, is the first feature film role for Dhananjay, who plays the best friend and biggest fan of aspiring rapper Patti .