Apu Speaks Again on The Simpsons, Voiced by Sunil Malhotra

Apu returned as a speaking character in The Simpsons on October 18, voiced by Sunil Malhotra in the season 38 Halloween episode “The Revengening.” The appearance ended nearly nine years without dialogue for the Kwik-E-Mart owner, who had continued to appear on the series after his speaking role stopped in 2017. The episode makes Apu’s absence part of its plot. A masked figure summons Springfield’s residents to City Hall and reveals himself as Apu, accusing the town of acting as if he had never existed. Marge apologizes on the town’s behalf, and Homer acknowledges that residents took Apu for granted. The confrontation is ultimately presented as a dream: Apu wakes at the Kwik-E-Mart beside his wife, Manjula, and Homer invites him to a Halloween party. Janina Gavankar takes over the voice of Manjula, previously voiced by Jan Hooks and Tress MacNeille. The episode’s framing leaves open how the story connects to Apu’s future in the regular series. Executive producer Matt Selman said the producers wanted Apu to return in a way that would allow the character to evolve. Selman also said viewers would see more of Apu, but did not specify when those appearances would occur. The episode...