Apu Nahasapeemapetilon made his first appearance on “The Simpsons” since 2017 in the latest episode, “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening.” Despite being seen in the background over the years, Apu remained silent due to criticisms of perpetuating racial stereotypes.
Sunil Malhotra, an Indian-American actor known for his work in “The Legend of Korra,” now lends his voice to Apu, taking over from Hank Azaria, a white actor who voiced the character for 27 years. Azaria publicly apologized in 2021 for his involvement in creating and portraying Apu, expressing regret and acknowledging the need for personal apologies to the Indian community.
The character’s last speaking role was in the 2017 episode “The Serfsons,” but the controversy surrounding Apu escalated that same year with the release of Hari Kondabolu’s documentary, “The Problem with Apu,” which scrutinizes the character’s impact and the stereotypes he embodies.
Malhotra shared a photo on Instagram featuring himself as Apu alongside Janina Gavankar, the new voice of Apu’s wife, Manjula, celebrating their characters’ return in a “Homecoming” scene.
Gavankar’s casting as Manjula is part of a broader initiative by the show to have characters of color voiced by actors from the respective backgrounds. This shift also includes Alex Désert as Carl Carlson and Kevin Michael Richardson as Dr. Julius Hibbert, alongside Malhotra as the new voice of Apu.
Apu’s reappearance was a surprise twist in the recent episode, with the character declaring his return emphatically. Showrunner Matt Selman mentioned plans to feature Apu and his family more frequently, expressing a desire to evolve the character in a classic “Simpsons” manner.
Indian-American comedian Rajiv Satyal praised Apu’s return as a significant cultural moment. While acknowledging the importance of representation, Satyal emphasized the need for characters like Apu to be portrayed as individuals rather than symbols of an entire community.
The reactions to Apu’s return were mixed on social media, with some fans welcoming the character’s comeback, while others expressed nostalgia for the previous voice actor, Hank Azaria. The ongoing debate highlights the evolving nature of representation and diversity in popular culture.