Renowned directors Pervez Malik, Shabab Kiranvi, Nazrul Islam and Javed Fazil also cast him in films and he enjoyed moderate success on the big screen. He was always cast in character roles and managed to make the most of them: Pakeeza, Dehleez, Meherban, Lajawab, Aahat, Deewanay Do, Bhabi Diyan Chooriyan and Direct Havaldaar are his more successful films in which he had the chance to share the screen with actors such as Nadeem, Waheed Murad, Mohammad Ali, Rahat Kazmi and Javed Sheikh. In fact, Direct Havaldar was the film version of Andhera Ujala where the whole cast including Irfan Khoosat (playing the title role), Mohammad Qavi Khan, Abid Butt and Jamil Fakhri reprised their roles brilliantly.

Veteran actor Firdous Jamal was part of Direct Havaldar as Jaffer Hussain’s son who turns rogue during the film. He recalls Jamil Fakhri as an excellent co-star with whom he shared a working relationship as well as a friendship that lasted for a long time. “Jamil Fakhri was one of my teachers because when I came over to Lahore from Peshawar, he made me feel as part of his family. I had spent more time with Jamil Fakhri than I had spent with my own brother, and I was shocked to hear about his death. Aam Aadmi to roz paida hota hai, Jamil Fakhri jaisa insaan kabhi kabhi paida hota hai (people are born every day, but a person like Jamil Fakhri is born once in a blue moon). — O.A.