- Primary Subject: The Simpsons recasting and bringing back the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
- Key Update: Apu officially returned in The Simpsons Season 38, Episode 3.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: October 19, 2026
- Quick Answer: Veteran actor Sunil Malhotra has taken over as the new permanent voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, who officially returned in The Simpsons Season 38.
To the surprise of many fans, The Simpsons recent episode brought back Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, who is now voiced by a new actor.
Almost 10 years ago, the fan-favorite character was quietly retired by the series following the release of the documentary The Problem with Apu, which criticized it for being a South Asian stereotype. As a result, original voice actor Hank Azaria resigned from playing the character, and he has not been used by the series since then.
Now, the character is officially back with a different voice actor behind it.
Who Is the New Voice Actor of Apu in The Simpsons?
The recently aired third episode of The Simpsons season 38, titled "Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening," reintroduced Apu Nahasapeemapetilon back in the series after almost a decade of absence.
This time around, he is now voiced by veteran voice actor Sunil Malhotra. Apu's wife, Manjula, was also brought back and is now voiced by Janina Gavankar.
In the new episode, which is a prelude to next week’s "Treehouse of Horror XXXVII," a man wearing a "Daft Monk" costume suffered a series of hilarious, accidental deaths at the hands of Springfield’s residents.
A year later, it turns out that Daft Monk miraculously survived. Driven by vengeance, he begins systematically hunting down his would-be killers one by one. It reached its climax when Daft Monk summoned the townspeople to Springfield City Hall. Removing his iconic helmet, he unmasked himself to reveal that he is Apu all along.
It was a big surprise for fans, given that there was no announcement that the character would return with a new voice actor, and it is an indication that the series was working hard on bringing him back in a respectful manner.
Fortunately, the executive producers confirmed the character's return is permanent, and we will see more of him again in future episodes.
How Sunil Malhotra Became the New Voice Actor of Apu
In an interview with Deadline, Malhotra admitted that he was initially hesitant when he was offered the chance to audition to be the new voice actor for Apu.
"When my agent called me about a Simpsons audition, I knew exactly what role it was for, and the idea actually made my stomach sink. But admittedly, part of me was also curious," he said.
"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?"
Malhotra met with the executive producers to address his concerns over their future plans for Apu, and fortunately, they were able to collaborate on how to make the character's portrayal respectful when he returns.
"My callback was the first of many times that no one at The Simpsons let me down. I told Casting that I’d only consider an offer if I could meet showrunner Matt Selman and Co-Executive Producer Cesar Mazariegos, both of whom gladly did so," he shared.
"It was the beginning of a deeply collaborative experience that I hope is equally satisfying for longtime fans of The Simpsons and for other South Asian kids who, like me, stopped watching at some point along the way."
New episodes of The Simpsons season 38 premiere every Sunday night on Fox and stream on Hulu.
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