Apu Nahasapeemapetilon returns to The Simpsons with new South Asian voice actors

Return to Springfield

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has returned to The Simpsons, speaking once again in a Sunday special episode titled The Revengening on the US network Fox. The Kwik-E-Mart operator had not been heard for the better part of a decade, appearing only silently in the background since an October 2017 episode. His return was kept as a closely guarded secret before airing. Indian-born, US-raised actor Sunil Malhotra now voices Apu, while Janina Gavankar voices his wife, Manjula. In a joint Instagram post, the two new actors described the return as a reclamation and a homecoming. Malhotra explained to Variety that his stomach initially sank when his agent called about the audition, but curiosity won out. He subsequently spoke with showrunner Matt Selman and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos to ensure the character could return in a culturally appropriate way for 2026.

Background and Controversy

Apu was first introduced to the long-running animated sitcom in 1990 as an Indian convenience store clerk. For over two decades, white voice actor Hank Azaria voiced the character using a heavy Indian accent. In 2017, Indian-American comedian Hari Kondabolu released a documentary titled The Problem With Apu, which argued that the character was a painful caricature built on racial stereotypes. The film featured interviews with South Asian celebrities like Kal Penn, Utkarsh Ambudkar, and Hasan Minhaj, who shared memories of being bullied using the character's name. Azaria later stepped away from the role in 2020 and subsequently admitted the portrayal warranted personal apologies to Indian people. Hari Kondabolu has hailed the character's return, stating he never wanted Apu to be cancelled and praising the public conversation about race and representation that his documentary sparked. Following the 2017 backlash and subsequent racial reckoning demonstrations in 2020, The Simpsons pledged to stop casting white actors as characters of color, leading to the recasting of Black characters like Carl Carlson and Dr. Julius Hibbert.

Context

The Simpsons is the longest-running American animated sitcom, having broadcast hundreds of episodes since its debut. Long-running television series frequently face evolving cultural standards regarding representation and voice casting as social expectations shift over decades. Shows often adapt by updating production practices and bringing in actors from the communities represented on screen.