Sunil Malhotra is now the voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon on The Simpsons, ending a silence that lasted nearly a decade. His first episode, “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening,” aired on Fox on October 18, 2026. The actor has since said he was fully prepared to turn down the role if the show did not handle the character with respect. Hank Azaria, who voiced Apu for close to 30 years, stepped away from the part in 2020 after criticism over the character’s stereotypical portrayal of South Asians.
Apu Speaks Again After Nearly a Decade
Apu last spoke in the October 2017 episode “The Serfsons.” The character stayed visible in Springfield for years but had no dialogue. The show kept his return and the new casting under tight secrecy. Reviewers did not receive advance screeners, and the table read was covered by non-disclosure agreements.
The episode itself was a Halloween-style slasher story. A masked figure in a “Daft Monk” costume is repeatedly killed by Springfield residents and then returns a year later for revenge. The mask comes off and the figure is Apu. The episode ends with Apu back at the Kwik-E-Mart, leaving open whether the revenge plot was a dream.
Janina Gavankar made her debut in the same episode as Apu’s wife, Manjula. The character had previously been voiced by Jan Hooks and Tress MacNeille.
Malhotra Says the Audition Made His Stomach Sink
The call from his agent did not feel like good news at first. Sunil Malhotra told Variety that he knew exactly which role the audition was for, and the thought made him uneasy.
“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 also said he was curious about whether the writers’ room had changed in the eight years since Apu last spoke. He wanted to know if the show could bring the character back in a way that acknowledged past mistakes.
“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?”
Malhotra set a clear condition before he would even consider an offer. He asked to meet showrunner Matt Selman and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos. Both agreed. He described the meetings as the start of a working relationship that met his standards.
“My callback was the first of many times that no one at The Simpsons let me down.”
The actor also spoke about the moment he enjoyed most in the recording booth. He said the best part was delivering the line “I AM APU!” with full force, take after take, until the team got it right.
Why Hank Azaria Stopped Voicing Apu
The change follows a long public debate about the character. Hank Azaria voiced Apu from the show’s early years and became one of its most recognized voices. Criticism grew over a white actor playing a South Asian shopkeeper written with heavy stereotypes.
The 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu,” made by comedian Hari Kondabolu, brought the issue to a wider audience. Azaria announced in 2020 that he would no longer voice the character. He later apologized on Dax Shepard’s podcast Armchair Expert.
“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.”
Apu remained silent on the show while producers worked out how to handle the character.
Janina Gavankar Joins as Manjula
Janina Gavankar, known for The Morning Show, took over as Manjula in the same episode. Malhotra and Gavankar shared a joint Instagram post about the return. Malhotra wrote that bringing Apu back felt like a homecoming and a reclamation.
Matt Selman said the show wanted the character to grow rather than stay frozen in his old form.
“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.”
Selman also confirmed that Apu, Manjula and the Nahasapeemapetilon family will be seen and heard more often on the show.
How Fans Reacted to the Return
Reaction online was mixed but mostly warm. Many viewers treated the return as a long-overdue correction. One user on X wrote, “MY GOAT IS BACK.” Another comment read, “HE’S BACK!!!!!! I have missed him and his family so much!”
Some viewers praised the way the reveal was handled, with Apu unmasking himself and declaring, “You thought you could just get rid of me.” Others questioned whether bringing the character back with a new actor was the right answer at all. Discussion around the episode leaned positive, with many longtime viewers saying Apu should never have been written out of speaking roles in the first place.
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Where to Watch The Simpsons
New episodes of The Simpsons air on Fox in the United States on Sunday nights. The show streams on Disney+ in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India and other markets. “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening“ is Season 38, Episode 3. The episode is available on Hulu in the US the day after its Fox broadcast and on Disney+ in international markets where the service carries the show.
Also Read: The Simpsons Season 38 Episode 3 Delayed: New Air Date, Story Details, Streaming Info and More
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