Apu Nahasapeemapetilon has been a subject of ongoing creative updates on The Simpsons as the long-running animated series continues its multi-decade run. Apu’s last speaking appearance was in the October 2017 episode “The Serfsons.”
Following the 2017 documentary The Problem with Apu, which criticized the character as a South Asian stereotype, the character remained in the background of scenes without speaking for several years. This period followed decades of the character being a mainstay of the Springfield community.
Hank Azaria, who voiced Apu from the show’s inception, officially stepped down from voicing non-white characters in 2020. Creative changes have extended to Apu’s family; Janina Gavankar, known for her role in The Morning Show, has joined the cast as the new voice of Apu’s wife, Manjula, replacing previous voice actors Jan Hooks and Tress MacNeille.
The production team has maintained strict secrecy regarding character developments, utilizing non-disclosure agreements and withholding advance screeners from reviewers to ensure future plot points remain a surprise for the broadcast.
While the show had previously acknowledged the controversy surrounding Apu in the 2018 episode “No Good Read Goes Unpunished,” recent transitions follow similar recasting efforts on the show, such as Alex Désert taking over the role of Carl Carlson and Kevin Michael Richardson voicing Dr. Hibbert.
