The Simpsons Recasts Apu with Sunil Malhotra

The iconic character returns to the series with new voice acting talent after a lengthy absence.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Asian-American

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a studio microphone and headphones, representing the voice acting process for the television character. — Sunil Malhotra has been cast as the new voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, marking a return for the character after a ten-year hiatus. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Simpsons has officially recast the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon with voice actor Sunil Malhotra. The character recently returned to the show following a nearly decade-long absence.

Why it matters

Producers brought the character back to allow for further evolution after a documentary by Hari Kondabolu criticized the original portrayal as a racial stereotype. The team collaborated with the new voice actor to ensure the return was handled appropriately.

Apu first appeared on the program in 1990 and was voiced by Hank Azaria until 2017. The character was removed from the show in October 2017 before making a return in the episode titled The Revengening.

The players

Sunil Malhotra

He is the new voice actor for the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.

Janina Gavankar

She is the voice actor who has taken over the role of Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon.

Hank Azaria

He was the original voice actor for Apu Nahasapeemapetilon from 1990 until 2017.

Hari Kondabolu

He is a comedian and filmmaker whose documentary criticized the original portrayal of Apu.

The details

Sunil Malhotra voices the character Apu, while Janina Gavankar has taken over the role of Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon. The character appeared in a recent Halloween-themed episode titled Treehouse of Horror.

Hank Azaria began voicing Apu in 1990.
The character Apu was removed from the series in October 2017.
Hank Azaria apologized for his role as Apu in 2021.
Apu appeared on the episode The Revengening on October 26, 2026.

Culture Shift

This casting change follows the shift in industry standards initiated by the documentary The Problem with Apu. It represents a broader effort to modernize long-running franchises by addressing historic stereotypes and ensuring more authentic representation.

Viewers can expect to see an evolved version of the character in upcoming episodes of the series. The move changes how long-time fans interact with the show's legacy characters compared to their original 1990-era iterations.

The takeaway

The return of a long-absent character through a new voice actor highlights the ongoing evolution of legacy media properties. Producers aim to balance the show's history with modern expectations for character representation.