Apparatus and methods are disclosed for generating blue color illumination for use in a projection system. Light from a blue laser light source is reflected off a dichroic filter sequentially onto different color emitting phosphor coated light non-transmissive segments and onto a cyan color emitting phosphor coated light transmissive segment of a rotating color wheel. The different color light and cyan color light emitted by the phosphor back to the filter is selectively transmitted by the filter along a projection path. Blue laser light and cyan color light emitted by the phosphor transmitted through the color wheel is directed along a wraparound optical path back to the filter for reflection along the projection optical path.