The Simpsons brings back Apu with Indian-American voice actor

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 20 Oct, 12:02 · Archive

The Simpsons has returned the character Apu to the show after nine years, with Indian-American voice actor Sunil Malhotra taking over the role.

The Simpsons has returned the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon to the show after nine years in animation exile. The Kwik-E-Mart operator appeared in the current season's Halloween-themed episode with a new voice. Sunil Malhotra, a veteran voice-over artist, now voices Apu, while Janina Gavankar from The Morning Show voices his wife Manjula.

Apu had not been heard on the show since the October 2017 episode 'The Serfsons', though the character was occasionally seen in the background. The character was previously voiced by Hank Azaria, a white actor, for decades until 2017. The long silence followed the release of Hari Kondabolu's documentary 'The Problem With Apu', which examined how the character represented a painful stereotype for Indian Americans. Kondabolu interviewed South Asian celebrities including Kal Penn, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Hasan Minhaj, who recalled being bullied and called 'Apu' as an insult.

Azaria stepped away from the role after the documentary, though he continued voicing other Simpsons characters. Kondabolu had never called for the character to be cancelled. On Monday, he praised The Simpsons for what he described as 'a clever solution to all this'. Executive producer Matt Selman said the show wanted to bring Apu back 'in a smart, Simpsons-y way that allowed him to evolve'. Malhotra and Gavankar described the character's return in a joint statement as 'a reclamation' and 'his homecoming'.

How it is being reported

• Apu returns to The Simpsons with real Indian-US voiceAlmost a decade in animation exile after a documentary revealed misgivings over the beloved shop-keeper, Apu is back.Perth Now · 20 Oct, 11:32
• Apu returns to The Simpsons with real Indian-US voiceAlmost a decade in animation exile after a documentary revealed misgivings over the beloved shop-keeper, Apu is back.The West Australian · 20 Oct, 11:31
• The Simpsons cast new Apu as character speaks for first time in nine yearsThe Simpsons have finally brought back Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, with a veteran voiceover artist taking on the role.Perth Now · 19 Oct, 07:01

In this story: Apu Nahasapeemapetilon · Sunil Malhotra · Janina Gavankar · Hank Azaria · Hari Kondabolu · The Simpsons

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