The film was announced in late 2010 by original director Younas Jax. After casting Emraan Hashmi and Sagarika Ghatge, it started filming under the title of Raftaar 24x7. However, after the death of director Desai in January 2011, the film was reported to be canceled. In October 2011, Desai's wife Priyanka announced that she will be completing the film, and it was renamed to Play. In mid-2012, it was finally announced that the film has been completed, and will be titled Rush.
Aditya Pancholi's character of Roger Khanna was inspired from his mentor and business tycoon Nari Hira who bought him into films, Nari Hira casted him in many video films in 80s,
The song "Sam Is On The Run" was composed by Arko and Dev, had a never-heard-before arrangement in Hindi music : a punk-meets-dance sound with complex acoustic ethnic percussions; Sarosh Izedyar's speed guitar on this one is a treat for the ears. The song was initially written for the film when it was titled "24×7 Raftaar" before the project was abandoned mid-way due to director Shamin Desai's sudden demise. Sam is the name of the protagonist, a flamboyant journalist with vaulting ambition for whom winning is everything: as the head of a News channel, he manipulates facts, toys with lives, breathes deception yet sleeps in peace. the song was later released in the Interbational album "Mira".
Director Shamin Desai died while the film was being made. His wife Priyanka Desai completed the film.
Esha Deol was signed for the film,but later replaced.