Apu returned to “The Simpsons” with a speaking role in the Oct. 18 episode “The Revengening,” marking the character’s first lines in nearly a decade. Actor Sunil Malhotra has taken over the voice of Apu from Hank Azaria, according to Variety.
The change answers a question that has followed the long-running Fox animated series since 2017: whether Apu would return to the show at all, and if so, who would voice him. Azaria stopped voicing Apu after the character became the subject of sustained criticism over its stereotypical portrayal of a South Asian convenience store clerk.
What Happened With Apu’s Return
Apu was last heard speaking in the October 2017 episode “The Serfsons.” He remained visible on screen in the years since but had no dialogue, a gap Variety reported ran until this weekend’s new episode.
Janina Gavankar also debuted in “The Revengening” as Apu’s wife Manjula, giving the Nahasapeemapetilon family a fuller presence on the show for the first time in years.
Executive producer Matt Selman said Apu and Manjula and the rest of the Nahasapeemapetilon family will be seen and heard more often on the show going forward, according to Variety.
Why Hank Azaria Stepped Away
The character’s history traces back to comedian Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu,” which examined the impact the character had on people of South Asian descent. Azaria voiced Apu for many years before the criticism prompted a reckoning on the show.
Azaria addressed his role in the character’s legacy in 2021 on the podcast “Armchair Expert.” “Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do,” he said.
In June 2020, during the national reckoning on race that followed the killing of George Floyd, “The Simpsons” announced that characters of color would be voiced by culturally appropriate actors going forward. That policy already led to other casting changes on the show. Alex Désert took over as Carl Carlson from Azaria, and Kevin Michael Richardson became Dr. Julius Hibbert, a role previously voiced by Harry Shearer.
Who Is Sunil Malhotra
Malhotra brings his own history with the kind of role Apu represents. He said he turned down a professional job offer 28 years ago because it would have required him to play a stereotypical “Hindu guy.”
“To be the butt of the joke wasn’t something I was willing to do, and I’ve turned down similar work multiple times since,” Malhotra said, according to Variety.
What’s Next
Selman’s comment that the Nahasapeemapetilon family will appear more frequently suggests Apu and Manjula are set to become recurring voices on the show rather than a one-episode return. No additional episode dates or storylines involving the characters have been announced beyond “The Revengening.”
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