Apu speaks again on The Simpsons: Sunil Malhotra takes over the role
Sunil Malhotra voiced Apu in the October 18 episode of The Simpsons, bringing the character back to spoken scenes after years of silence.
Sunil Malhotra voiced Apu Nahasapeemapetilon in The Simpsons episode ‘Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening,’ which aired on Sunday, October 18, 2026. It was Apu’s first speaking appearance since the October 2017 episode ‘The Serfsons,’ according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The return was kept under wraps before the broadcast, The Guardian reported: reviewers did not receive advance screeners, and nondisclosure agreements were used for the episode’s table read. Malhotra takes over a role long associated with Hank Azaria, who stopped voicing Apu after criticism of the character’s portrayal.
Why Apu’s new voice matters
Apu, the owner of the Kwik-E-Mart, became a focus of debate over stereotypes about South Asians and the casting of a white actor in the role. Comedian Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary ‘The Problem With Apu’ explored the character’s impact, including the conflicted feelings of South Asian entertainers. Azaria confirmed in 2020 that he had withdrawn from the role.
‘Once I realized that that was the way this character was thought of, I just didn’t want to participate in it anymore,’ Azaria told The New York Times, in an interview quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. ‘It just didn’t feel right.’ The Guardian also reported that Azaria later apologised for his part in creating and performing the character during an appearance on Dax Shepard’s ‘Armchair Expert’ podcast.
Who else returned to Apu’s family?
Apu’s wife, Manjula, has a new voice too: Janina Gavankar takes over a character previously voiced by Jan Hooks and Tress MacNeille, The Guardian reported. Gavankar and Malhotra announced the casting together in an Instagram post. The change brings two members of the Nahasapeemapetilon family back with new performers in the same episode.
The Guardian quoted Malhotra asking whether the writers could bring Apu back while acknowledging past mistakes, and whether he could make the character his own. The show’s producers said they were excited by what he had brought to the part and looked forward to seeing more of Apu. They did not give a date for his next appearance.
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Sources and context
- Apu is Back! Veteran Voice Actor Sunil Malhotra Revives ‘The Simpsons’ Character After Nearly 10 YearsThe Hollywood Reporter
- ‘A reclamation’: The Simpsons gives Apu a new voice as actor Sunil Malhotra replaces Hank AzariaThe Guardian
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.