Sunil Malhotra Takes Over as Voice of Apu in ‘The Simpsons’ After Hank Azaria’s Departure

The long-running animated series The Simpsons has officially replaced the voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, bringing the long-absent character back into the spotlight for the first time in nearly a decade with Sunil Malhotra. The casting change comes after original voice actor Hank Azaria stepped down from the role amid a wider industry conversation about representation.

Sunil Malhotra will voice The Simpsons’ Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, taking over from Hank Azaria. This marks the character’s first major speaking role in years, aligning with the show’s move toward more authentic representation. Exclusive reports confirmed the recasting and detailed the production’s recent direction.

For the first time in almost a decade, audiences will hear a new voice behind Kwik-E-Mart clerk Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. Exclusively, we learned that actor Sunil Malhotra has taken on the role and is bringing his own twist to the character, though he will remain an iconic figure in Springfield.

The move is a major shift for The Simpsons, which has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years over its representation of minority characters. You’re casting an actor of South Asian descent to respond to previous criticism and keep one of the show’s most recognizable characters in play.

Sunil Malhotra is a British-American actor known for television shows like Sense8, The Good Place, and Grey’s Anatomy. His experience in both dramatic and comedic roles makes him a good fit for the complex and often humorous Apu.

Malhotra has not yet spoken about the specifics of his approach to the character, but his casting aligns with a larger Hollywood movement toward authentic representation in voice acting.

In January 2020, veteran voice actor Hank Azaria, who also voices Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, and Comic Book Guy, announced he would no longer voice non-white characters. The decision comes amid a growing cultural conversation about white actors voicing characters of color in animated media.

“I think it’s a time of reckoning, and I think it’s important to recognize that,” Azaria said at the time. I’m happy to do another that’s more helpful. It’s really what’s best for the show.”

Azaria’s departure, though, meant a huge drop in Apu’s appearances. Until now, the character has mostly been absent from the main plotlines, appearing only in background gags or silent cameos.

The recasting of Apu matters for several reasons. First, it clears up a long-standing ambiguity about the character’s future on the series. Second, it signals a real change in how major animated franchises approach cultural representation. The Simpsons’ choice to cast a South Asian actor in the role is a concession to valid prior criticism, but also an effort to modernize the character for contemporary audiences.

This move may also set a precedent for other long-running animated series facing the same questions about legacy characters and voice casting.

Sunil Malhotra’s thoughts on Apu will be heard in future episodes of The Simpsons. The production team has not yet announced specific episode titles or air dates for the new voice, but the character is expected to be gradually phased back into the main storylines.

It remains to be seen how much the character’s personality or backstory will change to fit the new voice performance, or if the writers will stick with the status quo with the voice change.