Malaysian actress Sim Zhi Fei, who made her Malayalam cinema debut with the recently released thriller Eko, has become an overnight sensation after audiences and critics praised her powerful performance.

Zhi Fei, who works as a model in Malaysia, stepped into acting for the first time with Eko and impressed viewers with her expressive screen presence as Young Soyi.

The film, directed by Dinjith Ayyathan and written and shot by Bahul Ramesh, hit theatres on November 23.

Speaking at the film’s success press meet, Zhi Fei expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response.
“I want to thank the director, producer, and everyone involved in this project. Some of the most memorable moments were filming the emotional scenes—the crying sequences in particular. I had to push myself a lot because I still have much to learn in acting. I was fortunate to work alongside such talented actors,” she said.

Eko is the final chapter of Bahul Ramesh’s Animal Trilogy, after Kishkindha Kaandam (2024) and Kerala Crime Files 2 (2025). The film features Sandeep Pradeep, Vineeth, Narain, Binu Pappu, and Biana Momin in lead roles, and marks the debut production of Aaradyaa Studios under producer MRK Jhayaram.

Eko box office collection

Industry tracker Sacnilk reports that Eko witnessed a strong box office performance on Saturday, raking in approximately ₹1.9 crore, marking a remarkable 137% jump from its Friday opening of ₹0.8 crore. With a two-day total of ₹2.7 crore, the Malayalam mystery thriller has registered one of the most impressive second-day gains among recent releases.