Sunil Malhotra to Voice Apu in The Simpsons

Key Points:

• Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a key character from The Simpsons, has returned to the show after nearly a decade, with Sunil Malhotra cast as the new voice actor.
• Sunil Malhotra, an Indian-American actor known for roles in Grey’s Anatomy and voice work in various animated series and video games, debuted as Apu in season 38’s “Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening.”
• Malhotra replaces Hank Azaria, who stopped voicing Apu in 2017 following criticism that the character perpetuated South Asian stereotypes and due to concerns over a white actor voicing the role.
• The controversy surrounding Apu was highlighted in Hari Kondabolu’s 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu, which explored the character’s mixed impact on perceptions of South Asians in the U.S.
• Azaria officially withdrew from the role in 2020, stating he no longer wanted to participate due to the character’s problematic reception, prompting the show to recast the role to better reflect the character’s evolution.