Film & TV3 min(s) read
'The Simpsons' finally recast Apu as character is heard speaking for the first time in nearly a decade
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The long-running animated television show The Simpsons has officially recast the character of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, ending an eight-year period of silence for the Springfield convenience store owner.
American actor Sunil Malhotra made his debut as the new voice of Apu on Sunday night during the episode titled Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening.
Malhotra, who moved to the United States from India as a child, takes over a role that had remained silent following widespread public criticism regarding racial stereotyping.
Apu was originally portrayed by actor Hank Azaria, who stepped away from the role in 2020 after years of intense debate surrounding the representation of South Asian characters in media.
Much of the public conversation intensified after comic Hari Kondabolu released the 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu. Reflecting on his involvement on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Azaria stated, “I apologize for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize.”
Producers kept Malhotra’s debut entirely secret ahead of Sunday’s broadcast. Reviewers did not receive advance screeners, and nondisclosure agreements were strictly enforced during the table read.
Alongside Malhotra, actor Janina Gavankar has joined the cast as the new voice of Apu’s wife, Manjula, a role previously played by Jan Hooks and Tress MacNeille.
Recasting process and collaboration
Following the broadcast, Gavankar and Malhotra celebrated the character’s return on social media. In a joint Instagram post, Malhotra described the development as a fresh start for the long-standing character, noting, “Bringing Apu back feels like a reclamation. It truly IS his homecoming.”
Despite his ultimate excitement, Malhotra admitted to initial hesitation when he was first contacted about the role. Speaking to Variety, the actor explained his initial reservations and the questions he weighed before auditioning for the production team.
“When my agent called me about a Simpsons audition, I knew exactly what role it was for, and the idea actually made my stomach sink,” he said.
“But admittedly, part of me was also curious. It had been eight years since Apu had spoken on the show, and it got me thinking: Did the writers’ room look different now?
"Could they bring him back in a way that acknowledged and apologized for past mistakes? Could I make the character my own, and reclaim him in some way? And could they achieve all of that in an unmistakably Simpsons way that didn’t disappoint fans?”
Future plans for the character
Malhotra accepted the role after meeting with showrunner Matt Selman and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos. He described the discussions with the creative team as “a deeply collaborative experience” that put his initial concerns to rest.
Selman confirmed that viewers can expect to see Apu and the rest of the Nahasapeemapetilon family far more often in upcoming episodes. “We love this character, and wanted to bring him back in a smart, ‘Simpsons-y’ way that allowed him to evolve,” Selman told Variety. “We’re excited by what Sunil has already brought to the role, and look forward to seeing more of Apu in the future.”