Apu Returns to The Simpsons With Sunil Malhotra as His Voice
Apu has spoken on The Simpsons for the first time since 2017, with Sunil Malhotra replacing Hank Azaria after years of criticism over the character's portrayal.
By Hushread Stories, written with AI from 15 outlets · First published 20 Oct 2026
In brief
- Apu returned to a speaking role in the October 18 episode of The Simpsons, titled The Revengening.
- Sunil Malhotra now voices Apu, taking over from Hank Azaria, who played the character for nearly 30 years.
- The change follows criticism of racial stereotypes surrounding Apu and the release of a documentary in 2017.
- Apu had appeared in the background during the intervening years, rather than disappearing from the series entirely.
- The show plans to continue featuring Apu and his family, with Malhotra now providing the character's voice.
Timeline · 4 moments
Background appearances clarify Apu's years without speaking lines
CBC Top Stories ↗Coverage connects Azaria's departure to the 2017 documentary
The Hollywood Reporter ↗Malhotra identified as the actor taking over Apu
TVLine Television ↗The Revengening airs on Fox with Apu speaking
Variety Movies ↗How it started
Hank Azaria voiced Apu for close to 30 years before a 2017 documentary ignited a backlash over how the character represented South Asians, according to Deadline.
The Hollywood Reporter identified that documentary as The Problem With Apu and reported that Azaria dropped the role following its release. The dispute centered on the character's portrayal and racial stereotypes, rather than simply a change in casting.
How it unfolded
Apu's last speaking appearance before this return was in 2017, according to CBC. He continued to appear in the background in the years that followed. His return is therefore a restoration of his voice, not his first reappearance on screen.
On October 18, 2026, The Simpsons aired The Revengening on Fox, bringing Apu back to a speaking role. Variety reported the surprise the following day.
The episode introduced Sunil Malhotra as Apu's new voice, replacing Azaria. The Hollywood Reporter described Malhotra as a veteran voice actor whose credits include The Legend of Korra and The Legend of Vox Machina.
Coverage differs slightly on how long Apu had been silent. Telegraaf described an eight-year gap, while Der Spiegel described nine years. CBC gave the clearest reference point: his first dialogue since 2017.
Where it stands
Apu now has a new voice actor and a speaking role again. The change addresses who performs the character after the criticism that preceded Azaria's departure, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The show plans to continue featuring Apu and his family. The supplied coverage does not establish how frequently they will appear or what their next storylines will involve.
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