A male lead (Hero) can marry three times, have affairs with junior artists, and openly date heroines. His "romantic storyline" is seen as macho. Actors like Shakib Khan have had rumored relationships with multiple co-stars (Apubhai, Shabnom Bubly) but continue to reign as the "King of Dhallywood."
In the 80s and 90s, the "Jodi" (pairing) was everything. If the audience believed in the couple, the movie was a hit. A male lead (Hero) can marry three times,
For the better part of the 1970s to the 2000s, the dominant romantic storyline was the sacrificial love. Actresses like Shabana, Bobita, Kabori Sarwar, and later Moushumi and Purnima were cast as the paragon of virtue. The plot was simple: Hero (often a freedom fighter or a good-natured village boy) falls for the heroine. A villain (a wealthy zamindar or a scheming rival) lusts after her. The heroine endures kidnapping, public shaming, or memory loss, only to be saved by the hero in the climax. Romance was synonymous with suffering. If the audience believed in the couple, the movie was a hit