The Simpsons: Apu is back with a new voice – following criticism of the character
Sunil Malhotra is now following in Hank Azaria's footsteps
In the new episodes of the animated series "The Simpsons," Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is back with a new voice. Following criticism of the character, Apu had been seen but not heard for almost ten years. With the latest episode, "The Revengening," that's changing again. However, the character's former voice actor, Hank Azaria, will no longer be voicing the character. Instead, Sunil Malhotra will be taking over the role, as reported by Variety. In addition, Apu's wife, Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon, will now be voiced by Janina Gavankar.
According to executive producer Matt Selman, Apu and his family will now be seen and heard more often again after having taken a back seat in recent years. Apu's comeback takes an unusual turn. The horror episode "The Revengening" centers on a mysterious figure seeking revenge. As it turns out, this figure is Apu, who reveals his identity to the assembled residents of Springfield during the episode.
Why hadn't Apu been heard from on The Simpsons for so long?
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has been part of the "Simpsons" ensemble since 1990. The character, who has Indian roots and runs the Kwik-E-Mart in Springfield, was voiced by Hank Azaria until 2017. However, there was criticism of Apu's portrayal, which gained momentum with the release of Hari Kondabolu's documentary "The Problem with Apu." The film criticizes the stereotypical portrayal of the character, who is of Indian descent, and sparked a corresponding debate surrounding the character. As a result, Hank Azaria announced that he would no longer be Apu's voice actor. He also apologized, saying in 2021 on Dax Shepard's podcast "Armchair Expert":
"Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologize. And sometimes I do."
Who is Sunil Malhotra?
Sunil Malhotra, who was born in India and moved to the U.S. as a child, is now taking over as the voice actor. Over the course of his career, he has voiced numerous characters, including in "The Legend of Vox Machina" and "The Legend of Korra." He has also lent his voice to various hit video games such as "World of Warcraft," "League of Legends," and "Fallout 4." As a guest star, he has appeared in series such as "Grey's Anatomy" and "ER."
In a social media post, he celebrates the return of Apu and Manjula alongside Janina Gavankar. The posted image shows the two actors standing next to their animated alter egos. Sunil Malhotra writes:
"Bringing Apu back feels like a reclamation."
Before accepting the role, however, Malhotra held discussions with the producers of "The Simpsons" to ensure that the character would be handled with due care in the future. Variety quotes him as saying:
"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 apologized 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?"
Apparently, his questions were answered convincingly: Malhotra accepted the role and will now be a permanent fixture in the "Simpsons" universe.
The Simpsons: New season, new movie
As for "The Simpsons" in general, it's a success story that shows no signs of ending. The series created by Matt Groening, centered on Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie Simpson, has been satirically examining the American way of life since 1989. The animated series is currently in its 38th season. In total, "The Simpsons" has aired 812 episodes to date. This makes it the longest-running animated series in the U.S., the longest-running U.S. sitcom, and the longest-running scripted primetime series in the U.S.
In 2007, Homer and company made the leap from the TV screen to the big screen. "The Simpsons Movie" marked the iconic family's first cinematic adventure. And the second one is now in the starting blocks. "The New Simpsons Movie" will be released in theaters on September 3, 2027. Find out everything you need to know about the new "Simpsons" movie in the following original video from KinoCheck:
