India, Nov. 4 -- There are actors, and then there is Ajith Kumar. The Tamil cinema icon is known for his love for professional motor racing. He also launched his racing team, Ajith Kumar Racing, last September. Recently, the 54-year-old actor spoke about why he has chosen a quieter life away from India.

In a chat with Anupama Chopra, Ajith opened up about his decision to dismiss his entourage and handle things himself. "But is this not what everybody does?" he said.

"I come from a very middle-class family. I had wonderful parents who were way ahead of their time, so I guess we were brought up to do things on our own. We were taught cooking at the age of seven or eight," Ajith explained.

His grounded take stood out in an industry where ...