Iconic Simpsons character returns to speaking role after nearly a decade of silence

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon spoke for the first time in almost a decade in Sunday night's episode of The Simpsons. The character, who first appeared on the animated show in 1990, was previously voiced by Hank Azaria until he stepped down from the role.

The character had proven controversial for several years, with many stating his accent and traits contributed to harmful racial stereotypes and real-life bullying against South Asian people.

Grey's Anatomy star Sunil Malhotra is now the voice of Apu, debuting in The Revengening, which aired over the weekend and saw the character return to Springfield now his beloved Kwid-E-Mart has reopened.

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It is the first time Apu has been heard in the show since the October 2017 episode The Serfsons.

Speaking to Variety, Maholtra explained why he decided to take on the role after previously being fully prepared to turn an audition down.

"When my agent called me about a Simpsons audition, I knew exactly what role it was for, and the idea actually made my stomach sink,” he said.

"But admittedly, part of me was also curious. It had been eight years since Apu had spoken on the show, and it got me thinking: Did the writers’ room look different now? Could they bring him back in a way that acknowledged and apologised for past mistakes? Could I make the character my own, and reclaim him in some way? And could they achieve all of that in an unmistakably Simpsons way that didn’t disappoint fans?"

He continued: "Whether the producers knew it or not, I was prepared to walk away", adding that playing such a caricature "to be the butt of the joke wasn’t something he was willing to do" and that he has "turned down similar work multiple times since."

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"My callback was the first of many times that no one at The Simpsons let me down," he said.

"I told casting that I’d only consider an offer if I could meet showrunner Matt Selman and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos, both of whom gladly did so.

"It was the beginning of a deeply collaborative experience that I hope is equally satisfying for longtime fans of The Simpsons and for other South Asian kids who, like me, stopped watching at some point along the way."

The episode also featured the debut of The Morning Show's Janina Gavankar voicing Apu's wife, Manjula.

Azaria previously apologised for voicing Apu, telling Dax Shepherd on his Armchair Expert podcast in 2021: "I apologise for my part in creating that and participating in that.

"Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologise. And sometimes I do."

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Freelance Reporter, Digital Spy Rebecca is a freelance journalist who specializes in TV and film. After beginning her career as a digital entertainment journalist for the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, she embarked on a freelance career in 2021 contributing to the likes of Metro UK, The Sun, WhatCulture, Screen Rant, FilmHounds Magazine and more. Her particular field of interest is horror cinema and she has written for genre publications such as Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club. LinkedIn