"A journalist sent me an sms saying only 20 people are sitting in the hall for your film. So I replied, 'I feel more victorious in this film ('Rush') than even a Rs.100 crore film because I fulfilled a dying man's last wish'," the 33-year-old said here in an interview.
Desai, the original director of "Rush", died in January 2011 after announcing his maiden directorial venture in 2010, originally titled "Raftaar 24x7".
Later, his wife Priyanka Desai re-announced the film in October 2011 and titled it "Rush".
Emraan says "Rush", in which he plays a crime journalist, says the movie is a mission accomplished for him.
"Shamin, a friend, a colleague whose film could not be completed for almost three years and a production company that was in the doldrums... (so this was) The only way to kind of salvage this and kind of give to his wife and family and give him the due. He had worked so hard on the film and I wanted to release it and for me it's mission accomplished," he said.
For Emraan, its been a successful run at the box office so far, with movies like "Jannat 2", "Shanghai" and "Raaz 3".
Talking about the dynamics of the business, Emraan says technically his films have proved to be bigger money spinners than other Rs.100 crore films.
"A film making Rs.100 crore doesn't mean anything if it has been made for Rs.80 crores. You just make Rs.20 crore profit. But when you have a film like 'Raaz 3', which is made for Rs.10 crore and it clocks in close to Rs.100 crore, then that is much more than another film that makes Rs.100 crore," Emraan said.
"So, people don't see the business side of it! They only know the figure - Rs.100 crore. But then it doesn't mean anything. It's always in relation to how much money you put in the film. I think the media needs to club that in also. Technically, I think my films have made more money than other Rs.100 crore films," he added.
Emraan's forthcoming films include "Ghanchakkar", "Ek Thi Daayan" and "Unglee"