Sunil Malhotra Replaces Hank Azaria as the New Voice of Apu on The Simpsons
Springfield convenience store owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon spoke on Sunday night’s episode of The Simpsons for the first time in eight years, voiced by actor Sunil Malhotra. TVLine reported that Malhotra takes over the role, stepping into a part left vacant since 2020.
The character’s return occurred during the Sunday night Fox episode titled “The Revengening.” The storyline features Apu appearing alongside his wife, Manjula, who is now voiced by Janina Gavankar of The Morning Show. Gavankar succeeds former voice actors Jan Hooks and Tress MacNeille, according to details provided by Variety.
How the Recasting Unfolded After Years of Silence
Apu had been relegated to non-speaking background appearances since October 2017. Hank Azaria, who voiced the convenience store owner from the series premiere through 2020, stepped aside amid mounting criticism regarding a white actor portraying an Indian character. The backlash intensified following the documentary The Problem With Apu by comedian Hari Kondabolu, which highlighted how the character contributed to demeaning stereotypes of Indian Americans.
Azaria announced his departure in January 2020, explaining that he no longer wanted to participate once he understood how the character was perceived. In a subsequent interview on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Azaria apologized for his part in creating and participating in the portrayal.
Series creator Matt Groening stated in 2021 that producers were exploring whether new Apu stories could work. Behind-the-scenes secrecy surrounded Malhotra’s casting, with reviewers barred from receiving advance screeners and non-disclosure agreements enforced for the table read.
Sunil Malhotra Evaluates the Character’s Return
Malhotra admitted that receiving the audition request made his stomach sink. Best known for his voice work in animated projects like Prime Video’s The Legend of Vox Machina and Nickelodeon’s The Legend of Korra, Malhotra turned down his first professional job offer 28 years ago to avoid playing a stereotypical “Hindu guy.”
Before accepting the role on The Simpsons, Malhotra engaged extensively with executive producer Matt Selman and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos to ensure the character’s evolution. Malhotra and Gavankar shared a joint Instagram post describing the return, with Malhotra writing that bringing Apu back felt like a reclamation and a homecoming.
Selman noted that the production team wanted to reintroduce the character thoughtfully. “We love this character, and wanted to bring him back in a smart, ‘Simpsons’-y way that allowed him to evolve,” Selman told Variety.
