The Simpsons brings back character Apu with new Indian-American voice actors

The Simpsons has reintroduced the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon Jr., the Kwik-E-Mart proprietor, following a nearly decade-long absence from speaking roles. Apu and his wife, Manjula, appeared in a recent episode with a substantial plot, voiced by Indian-American actors Sunil Malhotra and Janina Gavankar.

The character's return marks a significant shift in a long-standing debate regarding racial stereotypes. Following the 2017 documentary ‘The Problem With Apu’ by comedian Hari Kondabolu, the character faced criticism for being a caricature of South Asians. The documentary highlighted how the character was used as an insult and noted that the original voice, provided by white actor Hank Azaria, reinforced these perceptions.

While Azaria continued to voice other characters on the show, Apu had largely remained silent or appeared only in the background. The new casting is viewed by the actors as a ‘redemption’ and a ‘return home’ for the character.