Overview
- The long-silent character returned in a Season 38 Halloween episode with Sunil Malhotra as Apu’s new English voice and Janina Gavankar debuting as Manjula.
- Apu had not spoken on the show since 2017 after the documentary The Problem with Apu raised concerns that the character reinforced South Asian stereotypes and Hank Azaria later said he would stop voicing the role.
- Producers placed the comeback under strict secrecy, withheld advance copies, and used the themed episode to acknowledge past criticism while framing a scripted evolution for the character.
- Writers Nick Dahan and co‑producer Cesar Mazariegos proposed the plan and executive producer Matt Selman backed it, and showrunners say the Nahasapeemapetilon family will appear more often going forward.
- The move reflects a wider industry shift toward recasting and rethinking representation in animation and gives South Asian performers a new role in shaping how the character is voiced and written.