Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) changed the game by suggesting that you don't have to elope to be in love; you win over the family. Relationships became about tradition meets modernity.
Love was synonymous with sacrifice. A romantic hero wasn't just a lover; he was a poet or a rebel fighting against a rigid society. The 70s & 80s: The Angry Young Man and Star-Crossed Lovers
As India became more globalized, storylines shifted toward the urban experience.
Modern romance often emphasizes that a woman (or man) doesn't need a partner to be "complete," a massive shift from the "soulmate" obsession of the 90s. Why Bollywood Romance Works