Apu Returns to The Simpsons After 9 Years, Voiced by Sunil Malhotra
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- Sunil Malhotra menjadi pengisi suara baru Apu Nahasapeemapetilon dalam episode 'The Revengening' yang tayang 18 Oktober 2026.
- Keputusan ini menandai akhir penantian panjang setelah Hank Azaria mundur pada 2020 akibat kritik stereotip rasial.
- Malhotra menyebut kembalinya Apu sebagai 'reklamasi' dan berharap dapat merangkul penggemar lama serta generasi Asia Selatan yang sempat berhenti menonton.
After nearly a decade away from the screen, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has finally returned to the iconic animated series The Simpsons. The season 38 premiere, titled "The Revengening," which aired on 18 October 2026, marked the comeback of the Kwik-E-Mart owner, this time with a new voice actor, Sunil Malhotra.
The decision to bring Apu back was not made lightly. Since 2020, the character had all but vanished from Springfield after Hank Azaria—the white actor who had previously voiced him—decided to step down. Azaria and the writing team agreed that the portrayal of Apu had been steeped in racial stereotypes that harmed South Asian communities. They apologized and chose to leave Apu absent, appearing only occasionally as a background figure with no dialogue.
Sunil Malhotra, an Indian-American actor known for The Legend of Vox Machina and Grey's Anatomy, was entrusted with voicing Apu. In an interview with Variety, Malhotra said he nearly turned down the offer because of past trauma. "I once left my first professional job because I was asked to play a Hindu person in a stereotypical way. So, whether the producers knew it or not, I was ready to walk away," he said. However, he was impressed by the production team's seriousness in wanting to present Apu more respectfully and authentically. "This is the beginning of a deeply collaborative experience. I hope the result satisfies longtime The Simpsons fans and also other South Asian kids who, like me, stopped watching at some point," he added.
The Apu controversy itself came to the fore in 2017 through The Problem With Apu, a documentary by Indian-American comedian Hari Kondabolu. The film highlighted how the exaggerated portrayal of Apu had hurt South Asian communities, with the name "Apu" even used as a racial taunt. Azaria, who voiced the character at the time, recognized that a character of color should be played by an actor from that community. Since then, Apu had been a background character who appeared only briefly without a single word spoken, while the writing team sought the best way to bring him back.
In "The Revengening," the story of Apu's nine-year disappearance is revealed in The Simpsons' signature style. A mysterious figure named Daft Monk is nearly killed repeatedly by the residents of Springfield. After summoning everyone to the town hall, he reveals himself to be Apu and recounts how he ended up stranded on the "Island of Forgotten Trash," where all of Springfield's discarded items end up—including characters such as Dr. Nick and Leon from the controversial Michael Jackson episode. Apu accuses Springfield of pretending to forget him and refusing to take him back. Marge then steps forward on behalf of the writers and producers to apologize: "Apu, we're so sorry we let you die. Believe us, we want to do the right thing." Lenny and Carl also poke fun at the long debate in the writers' room that "never reached a clear conclusion." The episode ends with Apu waking up at the Kwik-E-Mart beside his wife, Manjula—now voiced by Janina Gavankar—and realizing it was all a dream. Homer arrives and invites him to a Halloween party.
"Bringing Apu back feels like a reclamation. This is truly his homecoming." — Sunil Malhotra, Apu's voice actor, via an Instagram post.
The Simpsons' move deserves appreciation because the production team did not simply erase a character who had become part of the series' history. They chose to engage with the community and seek a solution that is not only entertaining but also respects diversity. In Indonesia, where The Simpsons has had a loyal fan base since the 1990s, Apu's return can serve as a mirror of how the global entertainment industry is becoming more sensitive to issues of representation. Indonesian viewers who grew up with Apu's humor may miss him, but they also need to understand the context of the criticism that arose.
Looking ahead, will Apu return as a regular character with richer stories, or will he appear only occasionally as a form of closure? Either way, this move marks a new chapter in the journey of The Simpsons, which has been on air for more than three decades. The public now waits to see whether the courage to admit mistakes and improve will be followed by other productions facing similar dilemmas.
