Gallerist and Founder of Volte Una, Tushar Jiwarajka, poses alongside a 2002 acrylic on canvas painting titled ‘Rickshaw Puller’ by artist Tyeb Mehta, ahead of its sale through the single-lot auction platform Volte Una. Photo: Volte Una via PTI
Indian painter Tyeb Mehta’s 2002 painting ‘Rickshaw Puller’ sold for ₹69.1 crore at the inaugural auction on Volte Una on Tuesday (October 13, 2026). This made it the fourth-most expensive artwork sold at auction in rupee terms.
The acrylic on canvas dates from 2002, in the final decade of Mr. Mehta’s career, and depicts the rickshaw puller, a figure he returned to in his later work.
Tushar Jiwarajka, founder of Volte Una, the single-lot auction platform, said, “We are thrilled that we were able to respect Tyeb Mr. Mehta’s painting by exposing it to the most serious and discreet collectors globally in private settings, and we have introduced a business model that allows the traditional buyer’s premium to be significantly reduced, putting that money back in the pockets of consignors and successful bidders.”
The painting was presented through private viewings to a select group of collectors across major art hubs. Built around a single-lot format, Volte Una’s allows each work to receive individual attention, offering collectors the opportunity to engage closely with the artwork before bidding.
Volte Una’s next auction, scheduled for the end of November, will feature a spectacular work by M.F. Husain from the renowned Herwitz Collection.
The most expensive Indian painting ever sold at auction remains Raja Ravi Varma’s iconic “Yashoda and Krishna”, which was bought for ₹167.2 crore.
Published – October 13, 2026 01:32 pm IST
