Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is back.
If that name doesn’t mean anything to you, you were probably banned from watching The Simpsons as a child or do not have friends quoting famous lines at every opportunity.
The iconic Kwik-E-Mart owner had gone unseen on the long-running animated series for nine years before making a shock return over the weekend.
Last appearing in 2017’s episode The Serfsons, the fan-favourite was reprised for Sunday’s season 38 Halloween episode The Revengening.
According to Variety, the voice actor behind the latest iteration of Apu — actor Sunil Malhotra — had been kept under wraps by producers and the Fox network, along with plans Apu would be revived.
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The character’s wife Majula, now played by Janina Gavankar, was also heard for the first time.
Executive producer Matt Selman said his team had been pursuing a return for Apu but was conscious of doing so in an appropriate manner.
“We love this character, and wanted to bring him back in a smart, ‘Simpsons’-y way that allowed him to evolve,” executive producer Selman said.
“We’re excited by what Sunil has already brought to the role, and look forward to seeing more of Apu in the future.”
Selman said the Nahasapeemapetilon family will become regular features on the show once more.
Before he was benched, Apu’s character had long been the subject of controversy due to a widely held view he perpetuated South Asian store clerk stereotypes.
He had also been voiced by white American Hank Azaria.
Following a 2017 documentary dissecting the cultural issues surrounding the beloved figure, titled The Problem with Apu, Azaria announced he would step down from the role.
Four years later, the versatile actor — who also plays classic characters Moe Szyslak, Fat Tony and Snake Jailbird— appeared on Dax Shepard’s podcast Armchair Expert to offer his perspective.
“I apologise for my part in creating that and participating in that,” he said.
“Part of me feels like I need to go to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologise. And sometimes I do.”
Malhotra, Apu’s newest vocal custodian, admitted he did not jump at the role when it was offered.
“When my agent called me about a ‘Simpsons’ audition, I knew exactly what role it was for, and the idea actually made my stomach sink,” he said.
“But admittedly, part of me was also curious. 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 apologised for past mistakes? Could I make the character my own, and reclaim him in some way? And could they achieve all of that in an unmistakably ‘Simpsons’ way that didn’t disappoint fans?”
New episodes of The Simpsons stream can be seen on Disney+ in Australia.