Apu is officially back in The Simpsons, nearly nine years after the character disappeared from the show’s active cast. Sunil Malhotra now provides the voice of Kwik-E-Mart owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon in the season 38 episode “The Revengening”.
Apu’s return follows years of controversy
Hank Azaria stopped voicing Apu in January 2020. Azaria and the show’s writers acknowledged that the character’s portrayal relied on racial stereotypes, issued apologies and gradually shifted Apu and his family into the background.
The debate had intensified after Indian American comedian Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu. The film argued that the character’s depiction had harmed people of South Asian heritage, including through the use of “Apu” as a racial slur. Azaria, who is white, subsequently said that actors from the relevant communities should voice characters of colour.
During Apu’s absence, he appeared only occasionally and did not speak. The show’s team took almost nine years to decide how the character could return with stories that addressed the concerns surrounding him.
Sunil Malhotra takes over the role
Malhotra, known for The Legend of Vox Machina and Grey’s Anatomy, became Apu’s new voice. He held extensive discussions with the producers about making the character culturally appropriate and respectful to Indian and South Asian audiences.
In an interview with Variety, Malhotra recalled abandoning his first professional job after being asked to play a stereotypical Hindu character. He said he was prepared to leave the Apu role if the production could not approach the character responsibly, but was encouraged by the producers’ commitment to a collaborative process.
Malhotra said he hoped the return would satisfy longtime fans while also connecting with South Asian viewers who had stopped watching the series.
“The Revengening” gives Apu a very Simpsons-style comeback
The episode leads into the following week’s “Treehouse of Horror XXXVII”. Its story begins with a mysterious figure called Daft Monk, who is repeatedly and accidentally almost killed by Springfield’s residents.
After summoning the townspeople to City Hall, Daft Monk reveals himself as Apu. He explains that he has been living on the Island of Forgotten Garbage, a place where Springfield sends everything it throws away. The discarded residents include Dr. Nick and Leon, the latter associated with the infamous Michael Jackson episode.
Apu accuses Springfield of acting as though he never existed and refusing to bring him back. Marge then apologises, serving as a clear stand-in for the show’s writers and producers. Lenny and Carl also refer to the many internal discussions about Apu’s future, joking that those debates never really reached a conclusion.
The episode ultimately reveals that the events were a dream. Apu wakes in the Kwik-E-Mart beside his wife Manjula, who is now voiced by Janina Gavankar of The Morning Show. Homer soon arrives and invites Apu to a Halloween party.
A cautious homecoming
The production’s hesitation was part of the story. Rather than restore Apu immediately, the show’s staff spent years considering whether they had the right approach and material for the character.
Fans have responded positively to Malhotra’s casting. In an Instagram post, Malhotra described the return as a reclamation and called it Apu’s homecoming.
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