After nearly a decade of silence, the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon speaks again in The Simpsons' 38th season.

The change appears in episode three, titled "The Revengening," which aired on Fox in the United States on Sunday night. The episode marks the first time since October 2017 that Apu has spoken on the show.

Actor Sunil Malhotra, known for roles in Grey's Anatomy and The Legend of Korra, provides the new voice. Malhotra had auditioned for the part after being contacted by the show's representatives. "When my agent called me about a 'Simpsons' audition, I knew exactly what role it was for," Malhotra told Variety. "It had been eight years since Apu had spoken on the show, and it got me thinking: Did the writers’ room look 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?"

Hank Azaria voiced Apu for the first 29 seasons. He stepped down in 2017 after the release of the documentary The Problem With Apu, in which comedian Hari Kondabolu examined the character's impact on South Asian communities. Azaria later expressed regret, stating he "feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologise."

Following Azaria's departure, Apu appeared only in background scenes without dialogue. The decision to bring the character back emerged from a Halloween-themed episode concept developed by staff member Nick Hahan and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos. Producers maintained secrecy around the episode's table read and production, keeping details under NDA.

Executive producer Matt Selman explained the approach: "We love this character, and wanted to bring him back in a smart, Simpsons-y way that allowed him to evolve." The episode features a man in a Daft Punk-inspired costume who dies repeatedly before returning to seek revenge. The killer is eventually revealed to be Apu, who declares, "I am the man you left for dead. I am the one you pretended never existed!" Marge responds, "Apu, we're so sorry we left you for dead. Believe me, wanted to do the right thing." Bart adds, "But we were so scared, and just didn't know what to do."

Malhotra described the experience as "deeply collaborative" and expressed hope that the return would satisfy both longtime fans and South Asian viewers who had stopped watching the series. "I really feel like we did and I can't wait for fans to see more Apu," he said.

The episode's reception and the character's future role remain open questions. Whether the return signals a broader shift in the show's handling of cultural representation is unclear.

Have you watched "The Revengening"? What do you think of Sunil Malhotra's portrayal of Apu? Let us know in the comments.