The voice of Apu from The Simpsons is back as Sunil Malhotra replaces Hank Azaria

The Voice of Apu from show The Simpsons is back after 8 years of long silence after the actor Sunil Malhotra replaced Hank Azaria.

News Source: https://www.theguardian.com/international

The television industry has been rocked by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon's sudden return to The Simpsons, turning what should have been a quiet milestone into a hot topic for cultural discussion. The enduring character, portrayed by American actor Sunil Malhotra, spoke for the first time in eight years on Sunday night. The network and the new cast have praised the relocation as a historic "homecoming" and a long-awaited "reclamation," but the character's troubled past and the rollout's secrecy have rekindled a heated ideological conflict about media identity, censorship, and corporate responsibility.

The controversy began in 2017 when comic Hari Kondabolu's documentary, The Problem with Apu, unmistakably revealed how the character originally portrayed by white actor Hank Azaria had weaponized a single, terrible stereotype against South Asian Americans. Azaria resigned in 2020 and made extensive public apologies in reaction to the strong criticism. The show's creators decided to bench the character rather than deal with the problem right once, making the once-prominent convenience store owner a silent background extra for almost ten years.

Many media experts saw this protracted quiet as a coward's compromise, an acknowledgment that the network was unable to resolve an issue of their own making without alienating some elements of their fan base. The choice to use stringent non-disclosure agreements, withhold advance screeners from reviewers, and keep Malhotra's appearance under wraps indicates that the show's producers were well aware of how unstable the return would be. Opponents contend that rather than being a proud, open advancement intended to avoid anticipatory public criticism, this extreme secrecy is a symptom of corporate damage control.

A significant cultural gap has also been revealed by the public's response to the casting. On the one hand, advocacy organizations and progressive viewers wonder if Apu can actually be rehabilitated. They contend that decades of harm cannot be undone by a simple voice switch, even with a gifted actor of South Asian heritage, because the character's entire foundation is so closely related to systemic bigotry. However, a similarly outspoken group of traditionalist viewers have voiced their dissatisfaction with what they see as the program's attempts to "cancel culture." They contend that the show's initial sarcastic edge is compromised by changing the famous cadence created by Azaria.

FAQs:

Q: Who is the new voice of Apu?

A: The Simpsons show character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is voiced by Sunil Malhotra.

Q: When did Apu return to the show?

A: On Sunday, 18 October 2026, Apu is backed on the show.

Q: Which episode featured his comeback on the show?

A: “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening” is the episode Apu came back.

Q: why Apu’s character was silent on the show for eight years?

A: Apu had been silent since 2018.  Because of the stereotypical and racially insensitive portrayal.

Q: Why did Hank Azaria Stop voicing Apu?

A: The Actor Hank Azaria used voice the character on the show from starting but in 2020, Azaria announced he would step down from the role because of public criticism.