"They were my friends - Rakesh Bedi and Ravi Baswani. I saw the film. Rakesh was my classmate and Ravi also used to stay with us. Ravi is no more today and I think the film is a tribute to him," the 52-year-old said here Tuesday at the movie's music launch.
Ravi died of a massive heart attack in 2010. His character of Jomo in the remake is being played by Siddharth, while the other two main characters are being essayed by Ali Zafar and Divyendu Sharma.
Dhawan said the film certainly carries the same soul as the original, but it has a few slight changes.
"As far the story is concerned, it has the soul, but that film was made thirty years ago. It was very good that time and I am trying that it should be good even now. It is according to today's youth. I have made the film because of the soul," Dhawan said.
The film, releasing April 5, also features Taapsee, Rishi Kapoor, Anupam Kher and Juhi Chawla.