Kozhikode: After shattering Mollywood box office records, ‘Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra’ has ignited a storm of fan theories and casting debates online.

With the sequel already in the works, attention has now turned to one of the most anticipated new characters in the Lokah universe — Ishtar, the Queen of Heaven and the goddess of love, war, and fertility, revered in ancient Mesopotamian mythology.

A lively discussion on the Reddit forum Inside Mollywood has fans speculating about who could embody the divine yet fierce character, rumored to be a powerful rival to Mammootty’s Moothon.

The original post proposed Shobana or Manju Warrier from Malayalam cinema, or Aishwarya Rai and Anushka Shetty from other industries — sparking a flood of reactions.

While many agreed with the suggestions, others rallied behind Tabu, praising her commanding screen presence in ‘Dune: Part Two’, and some championed Ramya Krishnan, known for her regal portrayal in Baahubali.

Bollywood names like Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were also thrown into the mix, though a few fans humorously nominated Isha Talwar “because her name sounds like Ishtar.” But, not everyone was keen on a Bollywood face leading the sequel.

Several Redditors argued that Lokah should remain rooted in South Indian talent, with Nayanthara, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Aishwarya Lekshmi, and Anna Ben among the top choices.

Yet, many admitted that few could match Mammootty’s towering on-screen presence. Some felt Ishtar should be portrayed as a younger, ethereal force — with Rukmini Vasanth (Kantara) and Sobhita Dhulipala (Ponniyin Selvan) emerging as fan favorites for a fresher take.

Speculation grew wilder when users theorised that the sequel might expand into global storylines — especially after Tovino Thomas’ Chaathan cryptically asked Dulquer Salmaan’s Odiyan if he had killed Adolf Hitler in the teaser.

That prompted calls for an international casting coup: names like Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey, Scarlett Johansson, and Sydney Sweeney surfaced as Hollywood contenders to play the celestial warrior.

One thing’s clear — whether ‘Lokah: Chapter 2’ crowns a South Indian powerhouse, a Bollywood diva, or a Hollywood legend, fans are already treating the casting of Ishtar like an epic battle of its own.