The character Apu has made his long-awaited return to the animated series The Simpsons, voiced by a new actor, Sunil Malhotra. This marks his first speaking role in nearly a decade, prompted by past accusations regarding the promotion of racial stereotypes.
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a beloved animated character known for his role as a convenience store owner, featured prominently in the episode titled “The Revengening,” which aired on Sunday night. Malhotra, born in India and raised in the United States, took over the role following a hiatus that began after the episode “The Serfsons,” which was last broadcast in October 2017. The return of Apu was reportedly a closely guarded secret by the show’s producers.
In an Instagram post, Malhotra expressed that this moment signifies a reclamation of Apu’s identity, stating, “It’s truly his return home,” as reported by BBC.
Apu has been a fixture in the show since its inception in 1990 and was previously voiced by Hank Azaria, a white actor who adopted a strong Indian accent for the role. The character has been the subject of considerable controversy, especially following the release of the 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu” by American-Indian comedian Hari Kondabolu, which highlighted the racial stereotypes associated with Apu.
In the following year, The Simpsons addressed the controversies surrounding Apu, but some viewers felt the response was inadequate. Conversely, others defended the show, arguing that all of its characters represent various stereotypes.
In 2020, Hank Azaria announced his decision to step down from the role and later mentioned on the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd that he feels compelled to apologize to every Indian person in the country.
Moving forward, the voice of Manjula, Apu’s wife, will be provided by Janina Gavankar, known for her role in Apple TV’s The Morning Show, taking over from Jan Hooks and Tress MacNeille.
