After nearly nine years without a speaking role, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has returned to The Simpsons with a new voice actor. Indian American performer Sunil Malhotra made his debut as the longtime Springfield resident in the October 18, 2026, episode Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening, marking a significant change for one of the animated series’ most recognizable supporting characters.
Malhotra takes over the role previously performed by Hank Azaria, who stepped away from voicing Apu following criticism of the character’s portrayal. The casting was kept under wraps until the episode aired, giving viewers their first opportunity to hear the new interpretation. The episode also introduced actress Janina Gavankar as the new voice of Apu’s wife, Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon.
The casting represents an important moment for The Simpsons, which has spent several years reconsidering how some of its established characters are portrayed. For Malhotra, an experienced performer with credits across animation, video games, and live-action television, the role brings a new level of visibility to an already extensive voice acting career.
Sunil Malhotra Takes Over Apu After Hank Azaria
Apu was originally introduced during the first season of The Simpsons and became a recurring character through his role as the owner of Springfield’s Kwik-E-Mart convenience store. For decades, Azaria provided the character’s voice, developing a performance that became closely associated with the series. However, Apu’s portrayal increasingly attracted criticism over its use of an exaggerated Indian accent and cultural stereotypes.
The discussion gained widespread attention following the release of the 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu, in which comedian Hari Kondabolu examined the character’s representation and its influence on perceptions of South Asian Americans. The documentary prompted a broader conversation about casting, authenticity, and the responsibilities of animated productions when depicting characters from different cultural backgrounds.
Apu’s last speaking appearance before the recasting came in 2017, and Azaria confirmed in 2020 that he would no longer voice the character. Although Apu continued to appear occasionally in the background, the character remained largely absent from the show’s dialogue while producers considered how to approach his future.
Malhotra has acknowledged that accepting the role required careful consideration. He initially had reservations about taking over a character associated with such a prominent debate, but conversations with the show’s creative team helped establish how Apu could be portrayed moving forward. Rather than abandoning the character’s history, the intention was to retain his recognizable personality while allowing him to develop beyond the stereotypes that had attracted criticism.
The actor has described Apu’s return in terms of reclamation and homecoming, reflecting the significance of an Indian American performer taking responsibility for a character who has been part of American television for more than three decades.
Sunil Malhotra’s Voice Acting Career Across Animation and Games
Although his casting as Apu has attracted considerable attention, Malhotra was already an established voice actor before joining The Simpsons. His career includes performances across animated television, major video game productions, and live-action series, giving him experience with a wide variety of characters and storytelling styles.
Among his animation credits are The Legend of Korra, The Legend of Vox Machina, and Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi. These productions represent different approaches to animated storytelling, ranging from action-oriented fantasy to character-driven adventures set within established fictional universes. His work has also extended to family-oriented animated series, including The Loud House, The Casagrandes, and Monster High.
Malhotra’s video game career has been similarly varied, with credits that include Mortal Kombat 1, Marvel’s Avengers, and Avatar: The Last Airbender – Quest for Balance. Video game performances frequently require actors to adapt their delivery to interactive storytelling, where dialogue, combat sequences, and character reactions may be recorded separately. His experience in the medium has contributed to a career that moves comfortably between traditional animation and interactive entertainment.
Alongside his voice acting work, Malhotra has appeared in several live-action television productions. His credits include Grey’s Anatomy, ER, NCIS: New Orleans, and MacGyver, demonstrating a professional background that extends beyond the recording booth. These appearances have allowed him to develop experience in both on-camera acting and voice performance, two disciplines that share many fundamental techniques while presenting different production challenges.
That combination of experience makes his appointment to The Simpsons particularly notable. Unlike a new animated character, Apu arrives with decades of established history, audience expectations, and recognizable personality traits. Malhotra must balance those familiar qualities with a performance that reflects the show’s revised approach to the character, creating a portrayal that can work within the existing Springfield universe without simply reproducing Azaria’s interpretation.
The Simpsons Plans More Stories for Apu and His Family
Apu’s return appears to be more than a brief appearance designed to introduce a replacement voice actor. The show’s creative team has indicated that the character will have opportunities to participate in future stories, with renewed attention also being given to his family and relationships within Springfield.
Showrunner Matt Selman has discussed the importance of allowing Apu to evolve while remaining part of the comedy that has defined The Simpsons for decades. The challenge involves preserving the character’s established identity without relying on the exaggerated cultural characteristics that contributed to his extended absence. Malhotra’s casting provides an opportunity to approach Apu as a more fully developed member of the show’s supporting ensemble.
The addition of Janina Gavankar as Manjula is another important part of that direction. Manjula has appeared throughout the series as Apu’s wife and the mother of their eight children, although her appearances have been comparatively limited in recent years. Bringing both characters back with new performers creates opportunities for stories involving their family life, marriage, and interactions with other Springfield residents.
For The Simpsons, the decision reflects a broader shift in animated television toward casting performers whose backgrounds align more closely with the characters they portray. The series has previously recast other characters as part of that approach, making Apu’s return one of its most prominent examples.
For Malhotra, the role represents a major addition to an already diverse career. His experience across animation, gaming, and television provides a foundation for interpreting a character with a long and complicated history. With Apu speaking again after nearly a decade, his performance will help shape how one of Springfield’s most familiar residents is presented to a new generation of viewers.