“The Simpsons” has pulled off its own October surprise: Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is back. The fan favorite character finally spoke again for the first time in nearly a decade on Sunday night’s episode, “The Revengening.” Variety has exclusively learned who is behind Apu’s new voice: actor and voice-over vet Sunil Malhotra (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Legend of Korra”).

Malhotra’s hiring and the return of Apu — who has been seen, but not heard on “The Simpsons” since the October 2017 episode “The Serfsons” — was a closely guarded secret inside “The Simpsons” universe.

Also heard on Sunday’s episode was the debut of Janina Gavankar (“The Morning Show”) as Apu’s wife, Manjula.

Hank Azaria previously voiced Apu, a character that has been controversial over the years due to its stereotypical portrayal of a South Asian convenience store clerk. The issue of Apu was the centerpiece of the 2017 documentary “The Problem With Apu,” in which comedian Hari Kondabolu discussed the impact the character has had on people of South Asian descent.