After eight years without speaking dialogue on television, convenience store owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has officially returned to The Simpsons with a brand-new voice actor. American actor Sunil Malhotra debuted in the role during a Sunday night episode of the long-running animated series on Fox, stepping in to replace longtime voice actor Hank Azaria amid longstanding criticism of the character’s traditional portrayal.
A Long-Awaited Return in Season 38
Malhotra’s casting marks a major turning point for Apu, whose depiction drew widespread criticism over racial stereotypes associated with South Asian characters in media. Hank Azaria, who had voiced the Kwik-E-Mart owner since his debut in 1990, announced in 2020 that he would step down from the role following renewed debate sparked by comedian Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary, The Problem With Apu.
While Apu continued to make silent, background appearances in various episodes starting with the Season 29 premiere “The Serfsons” in 2017, he had not spoken a single line of dialogue in nearly a decade. The character’s formal return took place in the Season 38 episode titled “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening,” written by Nick Dahan and co-executive produced by Cesar Mazariegos.
Executive producer Matt Selman explained the creative team’s motivation behind bringing the character back into active storylines:
“We love this character, and wanted to bring him back in a smart, Simpsons-y way that allowed him to evolve. We’re excited by what Sunil has already brought to the role, and look forward to seeing more of Apu in the future.”
Inside Sunil Malhotra’s Decision to Take the Role
Malhotra, an Indian-American actor who immigrated to the United States as a child, admitted that he was initially hesitant to accept the audition due to the character’s complicated history. Known for his voice work in animated projects like The Legend of Korra and The Legend of Vox Machina, as well as video games such as Mortal Kombat 1, Malhotra stated that his first reaction when his agent called was hesitation.
“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,” Malhotra shared. He noted that he turned down his first professional job offer 28 years earlier because it required playing a stereotypical South Asian caricature.
However, after opening a dialogue with showrunner Matt Selman and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos to ensure the character would be handled with cultural sensitivity, Malhotra chose to commit to the collaborative process. In the Halloween-themed episode, Apu’s return is revealed after a character disguised in a “Daft Monk” costume unveils his true identity to the residents of Springfield, letting out a rage-fueled declaration on behalf of the community.
Broader Changes to The Simpsons Cast
Alongside Apu’s return, the episode also introduced actress Janina Gavankar as Apu’s wife, Manjula. Producers have confirmed that both characters, along with the reopened Kwik-E-Mart, will feature more frequently in upcoming episodes of Season 38 and beyond.
This recasting follows a broader initiative launched by Fox and The Simpsons creative team in June 2020, pledging that non-white characters on the show would be voiced by culturally appropriate actors. Previous updates included Alex Désert taking over as Carl Carlson from Hank Azaria, and Kevin Michael Richardson stepping in to voice Dr. Julius Hibbert, replacing Harry Shearer.
Azaria has since expressed deep regret regarding his past involvement with the character, acknowledging during appearances on podcasts like Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert that his performance contributed to systemic harms and stereotypes. With Malhotra now stepping behind the cash register, The Simpsons enters a new era for one of its most recognizable Springfield residents.
