After nearly a decade of silence, Springfield's favorite shopkeeper finally has something to say.

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon spoke on The Simpsons for the first time in nearly a decade in Sunday night's Halloween episode, "The Revengening," Variety reports. His new voice is Sunil Malhotra, and Janina Gavankar debuted as Apu's wife, Manjula. The character had been seen but not heard since the October 2017 episode "The Serfsons," according to the BBC.

Why Apu went quiet

Apu was originally voiced by Hank Azaria, and the portrayal drew criticism as a stereotype, notably in comic Hari Kondabolu's documentary The Problem With Apu. Azaria stepped away from the role in 2020 and has since apologized, the Guardian reports.

A secret Springfield kept

The comeback was a closely guarded secret. Variety reports that Fox didn't share a screener, and the table read and production ran under tight protocols, including NDAs for everyone involved. The idea of bringing Apu back in a Halloween episode came from staffer Nick Dahan, the credited writer, and co-executive producer Cesar Mazariegos.

"We love this character, and wanted to bring him back in a smart, 'Simpsons'-y way that allowed him to evolve," showrunner Matt Selman told Variety.

The twist: his new voice almost said no

Here's the part nobody expected. Malhotra told Variety that when his agent called about a Simpsons audition, "I knew exactly what role it was for, and the idea actually made my stomach sink."

"Whether the producers knew it or not, I was prepared to walk away," he continued. Variety reports that Malhotra turned down his very first professional job offer 28 years ago because it would have meant playing a stereotype, and he has turned down similar work since.

What changed his mind? He told casting he would only consider an offer if he could meet Selman and Mazariegos, and both "gladly did so," he told Variety. He called it "a deeply collaborative experience" that he hopes is "equally satisfying for longtime fans of 'The Simpsons' and for other South Asian kids who, like me, stopped watching at some point along the way."

In a joint Instagram post with Gavankar, Malhotra summed it up, the Guardian reports: "Bringing Apu back feels like a reclamation. It truly IS his homecoming."

What happened in "The Revengening" (light spoilers)

A mystery figure in a "Daft Monk" costume appears to be accidentally killed over and over by Springfield residents, then returns a year later for revenge, the BBC reports. At City Hall, he takes off his helmet. It's Apu. "I am the man you left for dead. I am the one you pretended never existed," he declares.

Then the show talks to itself. Marge tells him, "Apu, we're so sorry we left you for dead. Believe me, we wanted to do the right thing," and Homer reminds everyone that Apu was on "our bowling teams, our barbershop quartets, our dad rock cover bands." Variety notes Lenny even jokes, "we had so many internal conversations about it."

Malhotra's favorite moment? Recording that "righteously rage-fueled 'I AM APU!'" over and over until it was just right, he told Variety.

Apu is here to stay

This was not a one-off. Selman told Variety that with the Kwik-E-Mart reopened, Apu, Manjula and the whole Nahasapeemapetilon family will be seen and heard more often. Malhotra's verdict: "I can't wait for fans to see more Apu."

Neither can we. Welcome home, Apu.