‘The Simpsons’ Brings Again Apu After Practically a Decade, Reveals New Voice Actor
The Simpsons is bringing again one among its most recognizable characters after practically a decade!
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon returned with talking traces throughout Sunday night time’s (October 18) episode of the long-running Fox animated comedy, marking the primary time the character has spoken since 2017.
The character is now voiced by Sunil Malhotra, who replaces longtime voice actor Hank Azaria, in line with an unique report from Variety.
The shock was revealed through the Halloween-themed episode “The Revengening,” which additionally launched a brand new voice for Apu’s spouse, Manjula.
Who Is the New Voice of Apu on The Simpsons?
Sunil, whose credit embody Grey’s Anatomy, The Legend of Korra and The Legend of Vox Machina, is taking on the position.
Janina Gavankar, identified for The Morning Show, can also be becoming a member of the present as the brand new voice of Manjula. The two shared a celebratory joint post on Instagram to announce the information.
“APU IS BACK. After eight years of silence, Apu returns to Springfield, now voiced by South Asian actor @ThatSunil, with @Janina as Manjula,” the put up reads.
“Bringing Apu again seems like a reclamation. It really IS his homecoming,” Sunil stated in a press release.
“After 22 years of friendship, I do know Sunil is the right individual to carry Apu residence,” Janina added.
Executive producer Matt Selman confirmed that each characters and their household can have a bigger presence on the collection shifting ahead.
“We love this character, and needed to carry him again,” Matt instructed Variety, explaining that the writers needed Apu to evolve.
Sunil admitted that he initially had reservations about accepting the position due to the character’s controversial historical past.
The actor, who’s of Indian descent, stated he met with Matt and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos to debate how Apu can be portrayed earlier than agreeing to affix the present.
He described the method as a collaboration and stated he hopes longtime followers and South Asian viewers will recognize the character’s return.
“It was the start of a deeply collaborative expertise that I hope is equally satisfying for longtime followers of The Simpsons and for different South Asian children who, like me, stopped watching in some unspecified time in the future alongside the best way,” he defined.
Why Did Hank Azaria Stop Voicing Apu?
Hank beforehand voiced Apu for many years earlier than stepping away from the role in 2020.
The determination adopted criticism of the character’s portrayal as an Indian comfort retailer proprietor, notably after comic Hari Kondabolu examined the stereotypes related to Apu in his 2017 documentary The Problem With Apu.
At the time, Hank confirmed that he would now not voice the character.
Apu continued to make occasional background appearances on the present, however he had not spoken because the October 2017 episode “The Serfsons.”
How Did Apu Return to The Simpsons?
Spoilers forward for the October 18 episode.
In “The Revengening,” a mysterious character often called “Daft Monk” units out to get revenge on Springfield residents. The character ultimately removes his disguise and divulges himself to be Apu.
The episode makes use of the storyline to acknowledge how the character had been pushed into the background of the collection.
Before Apu can destroy Springfield, he wakes up and discovers it was apparently a nightmare.
He’s again on the Kwik-E-Mart together with his household, the place Homer invitations him to a Halloween get together. However, the Daft Monk costume is sitting beneath the money register, leaving some thriller about what actually occurred.
“I’d be mendacity if I didn’t say that the sweetest a part of all was unleashing that righteously rage-fueled ‘I AM APU!’ — on behalf of so many people — again and again within the studio till we bought it excellent,” Sunil defined.
“I actually really feel like we did and I can’t anticipate followers to see extra Apu.”
The Simpsons at present airs Sundays on Fox.
Posted To:Fox Hank Azaria Janina Gavankar Sunil Malhotra Television The Simpsons
