SPOILER ALERT: This article contains major spoilers for the Oct. 18 episode of “The Simpsons,” “The Revengening,” which aired Sunday night on Fox.
The “Simpsons” created its own surprise in October: Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is back. The fan-favorite character finally spoke again for the first time in nearly a decade in Sunday night’s episode, “The Revengening.” Variety has exclusively learned who’s behind Apu’s new voice: actor and voiceover vet Sunil Malhotra (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Legend of Korra”).
The hiring of Malhotra and the return of Apu — who has been seen, but not heard, on “The Simpsons” since the October 2017 episode “The Serfsons” — was a closely guarded secret in the “Simpsons” universe. Fox did not share a screener for “The Revengening,” and producers kept the episode’s table read and subsequent production under strict protocols (including NDAs for everyone involved).
Sunday’s episode also heard the debut of Janina Gavankar (“The Morning Show”) as Apu’s wife, Manjula. And now that Apu is back and the Kwik-E-Mart has reopened, executive producer Matt Selman said the two characters and the Nahasapeemapetilon family will once again be seen (and heard) more often on “The Simpsons.”
“We love this character and we wanted to bring him back in a smart, Simpsons-style way that allowed him to evolve,” Selman said. “We’re excited about what Sunil has already brought to this role and look forward to seeing more of Apu in the future.”
Hank Azaria previously voiced Apu, a controversial character over the years due to his stereotypical portrayal of a South Asian convenience store clerk. The Apu Question was the centerpiece of the 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu,” in which comedian Hari Kondabolu discussed the impact the character had on people of South Asian descent.
After that documentary made waves — including in the “Simpsons” writers’ room, where it was screened and discussed — Azaria announced he would no longer voice Apu. “I apologize for my part in creating this and my participation in this,” Azaria said in 2021 on Dax Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast. “Part of me feels like I need to go to every Indian in this country and apologize personally. And sometimes I do.”
Subsequently, Apu faded into the background of “The Simpsons” as producers decided how to handle the character moving forward. For years, this meant that Apu was still occasionally seen in Springfield, but never heard from.
Until now. The idea to bring back Apu in this way, as part of one of this year’s Halloween-themed episodes, came from Nick Dahan (who is the credited writer of “The Revengening”) and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos. After hearing their pitch, Selman said he thought it was “a brilliant way” to bring back Apu and address the whole situation.
Voice actor Malhotra said he took the time to consider what it would mean to reprise Apu and spoke to producers to ensure the character was more culturally appropriate.
“When my agent called me about an audition for The Simpsons, I knew exactly what it was for, and the idea really made my stomach sink,” he said. “But admittedly, part of me was also curious. It had been eight years since Apu last spoke on the show, and it got me thinking: Was the writers’ room different now? Could they bring him back in a way that acknowledged and apologized for past mistakes? Could I make the character my own and reclaim him in some way? And could they pull it off in an undeniably “Simpsons” way that did not disappoint the fans?
“Whether the producers knew it or not, I was ready to walk away,” he continued. Malhotra said he declined his very first “professional job offer 28 years ago” because it would have required him to play a stereotypical “Hindu man,” adding that playing such a caricature “to be the butt of the joke was not something I was willing to do, and I have turned down similar work several times since.”
But as Malhotra progressed on “The Simpsons,” he said, he began talking with producers about their plans for Apu before committing to the role, where he was promised that Apu’s return would be handled with the utmost care.
“My call-up was the first of many where no one at The Simpsons let me down,” he said. “I told the cast that I would only consider an offer if I could meet showrunner Matt Selman and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos, both of whom happily did so. It was the start of a deeply collaborative experience that I hope will be just as satisfying for longtime ‘Simpsons’ fans and for other South Asian kids who, like me, stopped watching at some point along the way.”
In “The Revengening,” a spooky lead-up to next week’s “Treehouse of Horror XXXVII,” a man in a “Daft Monk” Halloween costume (as in a Daft Punk helmet and monastic robes – pun intended!) is accidentally killed over and over again by Springfield residents all over town. A year later, “Daft Monk” is still alive and takes revenge by eliminating his would-be assassins, one by one.
Eventually, “Daft Monk” summons the townspeople to Springfield City Hall, where he removes his helmet and reveals that he is actually Apu.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say the sweetest part of it all was triggering that “I’M APU!” » precisely fueled by rage! – on behalf of many of us – over and over in the studio until we get it right,” Malhotra said. “I really feel like we did it and I can’t wait for the fans to see more of Apu.”
Apu then shares his story: After nearly being killed dozens of times, he ended up on “The Island of Forgotten Trash”, where he was cured by “Simpsons” charlatan Dr. Nick (who has also been seen sparingly in recent years, and is now voiced by Eric Lopez, who previously also took over as Bumblebee Man).
“All the trash that Springfield gets rid of is here,” he said to Apu, “like you… You came here for a reason, right, Leon?” (The character Michael Jackson played in the Season 3 episode “Stark Raving Mad,” which was removed from “Simpsons” rotation in 2019 after the documentary “Leaving Neverland” featured more allegations against the late pop star.)
Said Apu before revealing himself: “I’m the man you left for dead. I’m the man you claimed never existed!”
Then, without a mask, he told the Springfield crowd: “It would have been so easy to take me back. I immediately ran to my family, but they were gone. Then I went to the Kwik-E-Mart and was shocked to find it abandoned. As I wandered aimlessly around the city, no one even noticed me. It was like I was invisible. That’s when I swore revenge on Springfield.”
He’s about to light City Hall on fire, but Marge Simpson intervenes, representing the citizens of Springfield, but also clearly serving as a spokesperson for the show’s producers: “Apu, we’re so sorry we left you for dead. Trust me, we wanted to do the right thing.”
Bart adds: “But we were so scared and we just didn’t know what to do. »
Lenny also chimes in, in a nod to debates in the Simpsons writers’ room: “If it’s any consolation, we’ve had so many internal conversations about this.”
But Carl finishes: “Ahh, they just didn’t go anywhere.” (And for nearly a decade, that’s how “The Simpsons” never managed to bring Apu back.)
Homer then offers to sacrifice himself to save the rest of the town, and offers this penance to Apu, while reminding viewers how important Apu was to the makeup of Springfield: “I’m just doing what old Apu would have done. The guy who loved this town and everyone who lived in it. You were part of our bowling teams, our barbershop quartets, our dad rock cover bands. We took you for granted.” I took you for granted.
But before Apu can blow up the city, he wakes up. Turns out it was a nightmare; no one died. He’s back at the Kwik E-Mart, and Manjula is there too. Just like his number one customer, Homer, who invites him to a Halloween party.
“What is it? I’ll do it,” Apu said. “A Halloween party sounds like kind of fun. Plus, I feel like I haven’t seen everyone in ages. Oh, but I wish I had a costume.”
But that’s actually the case: there’s a “Daft Monk” costume hidden under the cash register. So, was it really a dream? And that’s the end of the episode — but Apu is back!
This isn’t the first time The Simpsons writers have used their characters to hint at their indecision about what to do with Apu. In the 2018 episode “No Good Read Goes Unpunished”, Marge begins reading her favorite childhood novel to Lisa, but soon realizes that the old book was much more offensive and racist than she remembered. She tries to disinfect it, but “now it’s as harmless as a Sunday in Cincinnati…what am I supposed to do?” »
Lisa then looks out at the audience, appearing to address “Simpsons” fans: “It’s hard to say. Something that started decades ago and was applauded and harmless is now politically incorrect. What can you do?”
The scene pans back to reveal a photo of Apu by Lisa’s bed, and it’s obvious that they’re no longer talking about a book, but about their own show. While Marge also looks directly at the viewers, the two suggest that “Some things will be addressed at a later date…if at all.” (It should be noted that Apu and his children also appeared in the episode, but did not speak.)
In June 2020, during the post-George Floyd reckoning on race, “The Simpsons” announced that in the future, its characters…
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