Sunil Malhotra takes over as Apu as The Simpsons brings character back
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is back on The Simpsons after almost a decade away.
Indian-American actor Sunil Malhotra has taken over the voice of the Springfield regular from Hank Azaria, in a recast where a new performer takes over an established part. The Hollywood Reporter reported the casting on 19 October 2026.
He is back. Malhotra debuted as Apu in the Season 38 episode 'Treehouse of Horror Presents: The Revengening', which aired on Sunday. It was the character's first speaking appearance, meaning an episode with dialogue rather than a silent cameo, since the Season 29 episode 'The Serfsons' in October 2017.
That gap explains why the return matters. Nine years off microphone is a long time in animation, where characters can sit quietly in the background for seasons. This time Apu has a new voice and a route back into regular stories.
The timeline is straightforward. Apu was last heard with dialogue in October 2017. Azaria then confirmed in February 2020 that he had withdrawn from voicing the character. Malhotra's debut closes that chapter more than six years later.
Azaria stepped away after sustained criticism that Apu reinforced racial stereotypes about South Asians and that it was problematic for a white actor to voice an Indian character. That debate had built for years and culminated in comedian Hari Kondabolu's one-hour documentary The Problem With Apu in 2017, according to the same report.
Malhotra steps into one of television's most recognised supporting roles. He is an Indian-American actor and voice actor with credits across children's animation, adult animation and family comedy. His animation roles include The Legend of Korra, The Legend of Vox Machina, Monster High, Blaze and the Monster Machines and The Casagrandes.
He is also established in video games, where performers often record both dialogue and action sounds. His game credits include Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, Mortal Kombat 1, Avatar: The Last Airbender – Quest for Balance and The Outer Worlds 2. That mix of animation and games work is typical for career voice actors, who move from series to series.
Azaria has remained a core part of the programme throughout. He continues to voice Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Professor Frink, Dr Nick Riviera and Snake Jailbird.
For fans, this means a familiar Springfield figure is talking again after a long silence. The character returns with his history intact but with a different actor behind the microphone.
