Apu Nahasapeemapetilon made a notable comeback on the latest episode of The Simpsons, titled “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening,” marking his first speaking role since 2017. Despite making occasional background appearances in recent years, Apu had refrained from speaking due to criticism for perpetuating racial stereotypes.
The character is now voiced by Sunil Malhotra, an Indian-American actor known for his work in The Legend of Korra, taking over from Hank Azaria, a white actor who had voiced Apu for 27 years. In 2021, Hank Azaria publicly expressed regret for his involvement in creating and portraying the character, acknowledging the need for personal apologies to the Indian community.
Apu’s previous speaking appearance was in the episode “The Serfsons” back in 2017. The conversation around Apu intensified that same year following the release of the documentary The Problem with Apu by Indian-American comedian Hari Kondabolu, which critiqued the character’s cultural impact and the racial stereotypes he represented.
Sunil Malhotra took to Instagram to share a photo alongside Janina Gavankar, who voices Apu’s wife, Manjula, celebrating Apu’s return as a symbolic “homecoming.” The show’s decision to recast characters of color with actors of color led to Gavankar taking over the role of Manjula from Tress MacNeille.
The return of the Kwik-E-Mart owner was kept secret until the episode aired, where Apu’s reentry into the storyline was unveiled dramatically with the character emphatically declaring, “I am Apu.” Showrunner Matt Selman expressed excitement about integrating Apu and his family more prominently in future episodes to allow the character to evolve within the show’s context.
The unexpected return of Apu has sparked a range of reactions online, with some fans expressing enthusiasm for the character’s revival while others have questioned the decision. Despite the mixed responses, the show’s creative team, including Malhotra, are optimistic about reintroducing Apu in a manner that acknowledges past criticisms and allows for character growth.