The Problem With Apu

The Problem with Apu is a 2017 American documentary film written by and starring comedian Hari Kondabolu and produced and directed by Michael Melamedoff. It focuses on the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, an Indian immigrant in the animated sitcom The Simpsons who, for a period, was the only figure of Indian heritage to appear regularly on mainstream American television. The film explores encounters with negative stereotypes, minstrelsy, racial microaggressions, and slurs against people of Indian and South Asian heritage. Following the documentary, the character of Apu was retired from The Simpsons for nine years. The decision to retire the character received a negative reception from the wider fan and Indian American community, becoming the basis for the comedy special Bring Back Apu by Akaash Singh, where he refuted the concept of Apu being negative representation for Indian-Americans raised by The Problem with Apu, and, consequently, Hank Azaria was recast with Sunil Malhotra in 2026, Malhotra retaining the same accent used by Azaria for the character.

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