Apu makes shock return to ‘The Simpsons’ nearly a decade later: “We’re excited”

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the popular character from the animated series ‘The Simpsons’ who runs the Kwik-E-Mart convenience store, is back. The last time fans heard Apu speak was in 2017, specifically in the episode ‘The Serfsons.’ Since then, the character had remained silent, but that has now changed. Voice actor Sunil Malhotra, known for his work on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘The Legend of Korra,’ has taken over the role of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon in the episode ‘The Fall Guy-Yi-Yi,’ which aired Sunday, according to Variety.

Executive producer Matt Selman emphasized Apu’s importance to the show and welcomed Malhotra’s arrival. “We love this character and wanted to bring him back in a smart, ‘Simpsons’-style way that allowed him to evolve. We’re thrilled with what Sunil has already brought to the role, and we look forward to seeing more of Apu in the future,” he said.

The controversy surrounding Apu on ‘The Simpsons’

Apu’s return goes beyond a simple storyline decision. The 2017 documentary ‘The Problem with Apu’ brought renewed attention to the controversy surrounding the character, who was voiced at the time by Hank Azaria. Critics argued that the accent used for Apu could reinforce stereotypes about people of Indian descent.

Azaria himself later publicly apologized, as Variety recalled: “Part of me feels like I need to go around to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do.” Nine years later, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has returned with a speaking role on one of television’s most famous animated shows.

The team behind ‘The Simpsons’ hopes new voice actor Sunil Malhotra will play a key role in shaping this new chapter for Apu in future episodes. Malhotra has expressed his excitement about taking on the character.